Almsgiving is one of the pillars of our journey through Lent. What is at the heart of Almsgiving? Charity, or said another way, love. We come to realize how good we have it with the love that God pours into us, that we naturally spill that love back out onto others.
And our love should always find preference in the poor – those who shoulder a heavier worldly burden on behalf of the whole of the body of Christ. Our alms can be financial – say donating your daily pocket change to a rice bowl, but it can also be lifting the poor in spirit through affirming words and deeds.
Listen to Jesus distill the hundreds of Jewish laws down to two, centered on almsgiving, in Friday’s gospel from Mark chapter 12:
"Which commandment is the first of all?" Jesus answered, "The first is… you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, `You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
Let’s pray - Father of Grace and Mercy – You pour your love into our hearts through your Spirit. May we recognize the immensity of your love for us, so we would be compelled to pour that love out to others in our almsgiving this Lent. Help us to love one another as unconditionally as you love us. Amen.
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