Giving alms

Luke 11: 37 - 41

...give for alms those things that are within....

Jesus was never a stickler to eternal forms of religiosity. He knew that what mattered most in human hearts is not what is done - but why and how we do things. Washing before meals was an external religious symbolic act that pointed to something much deeper, of much more significance - the need to cleanse the human heart of evil. And the offering we make to God is not so much the external act, but the graced virtues that underlie the act.......those gifts we receive from God.

Indeed if we were asked to give 'alms' from the storehouse of inner graces/virtues - it might make us wonder if we have enough to give! And all the more ready to ask God for the valuable inner gifts and graces. When we offer an act of practical help - the gift of patience and willing spirit; when we listen to another, the gift of presence; when we enjoy a meal with others, the gift of fellowship....and so on. Sometimes, we fail of course - the spirit behind our offerings is not as pure. The Lord fully understands and surely he will heal us if we seek him.

O Lord, grant that we may be willing to receive from you the many inner graces that we can offer in your name to others.