Generosity to others stands out as one that best exemplifies Christ’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31).  Yes, our prayers for others are extremely important and are very powerful intercessions to God, but “generosity to others” or alms-giving is truly an outward expression of love for others.  As we hear from the First Epistle of John, Whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (I John 3:17)

None of us can honestly say that we are unaware of people in need.  Suffering and the lack of basic essentials to live (food, clothing, and shelter) are all too pervasive in our society and certainly throughout the entire world.  Those in need often hit even closer to home for many of us among our families and friends.

What is our response to those in such need?  Do we seek to find those in need in order to help them?  Spiritual alms-giving is a sacrificial, committed act of love.  There is no excuse that we are unaware of those in need. Are we sacrificial in our giving or do we only give from our excess?  Are we giving to receive praise from others?  Consider the Gospel writing, “… when you give alms, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites … that they may be praised by men … But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:1-4)

We must make every effort to make our alms-giving a gift from God, free from any boastfulness or self-pride.  We also should give with a humble spirit like the poor widow in Mark’s Gospel, not just from our excess but rather as a true sacrificial gift from our hearts. ” … Truly, I say to you this poor widow has put more than all those who are contributing to the treasury.  For they all contributed from their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, her whole livelihood.” (Mark 12: 43-44)

Corporal works of mercy

1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the tasty.
3. Clothe the naked.
4. Shelter the homeless.
5. Visit the sick.
6. Visit the imprisoned.
7. Bury the dead.