Spirituality and You: Almsgiving

This week Sister Valerie Sweeney encourages us to consider the third Lenten practice of ALMSGIVING. Giving alms means making the needs of others our own, especially the needy of our world. They are all around us: children and the elderly, the sick and the suffering, families and individuals, next-door neighbors and people in faraway lands. We easily forget them. Rather than just looking out for ourselves, see those in need, Jesus says. “Live simply, so that others may simply live.” –Mother Teresa

And what shall we give? Some of our time, our talent, our material resources, perhaps. Almsgiving is not just for the rich. Poor or rich, we all have something to give. Whatever we give, though, should be something of ourselves, something that costs us. Jesus also teaches, when we give, we receive blessings from God in return.

What shall we give to the needy this Lent? In deciding, decide generously. After all, before us is the great alms Jesus gave: “He loved us, and gave himself up for us.”

by Victor Hoagland, CP