Fifth Sunday In Lent
~ God has given us all that we have – our life, love, our abilities and talents, our resources. We should count our blessings always and be grateful for that we have, and not just at Thanksgiving! When we realize how much we have, and how we have been given, then we realize that we have the responsibility to share our gifts and talents with the Lord by sharing them with others. This is the basis for Stewardship – being Grateful and Generous! – and it is also the basis for the Lenten discipline of almsgiving, often called charity or works of mercy.
We generally think of almsgiving as a financial contribution, but we can also give our time and our talent as well as our treasure. Lent is the perfect opportunity for us to reflect on how we just our time, and how we use our time for others. If we really took an honest look at how we spend our days, most of us would be surprised at how much time is wasted. Maybe the first thing to do is to make an honest accounting of our time. All of us must eat and sleep, and most of us must work, but what do we do with the rest of our time? Can at least some of our time be given for others? How might you use your time this Lenten season as a sign of your charity? Can you visit the sick? Can you pick up trash on your street, at Church, or in public areas? Could you meet someone new at Church each week? Could you send a complimentary letter to a friend? Do you participate in parish events? Do you attend neighborhood meetings? Do you contact those in public office to make your conscience heard on behalf of the needy in our community and around the world? Use your time wisely during Lent!
What about your talents? Everyone has some! With what skills has God endowed you? Do you put them at the service of others, not for pay but as a gift? Are your talents at work in your home, your neighborhood, your parish, your civic community? Are they making a difference for the world? Share your talents generously during Lent!
And of course almsgiving means giving money. How do you share your treasure? The Bible recommends tithing, a contribution of ten percent to charity. What would ten percent of your income be? How close are you? Can you increase your charitable giving one or two percent a year until you are at ten? There are many worthy charities in the world, the Church, and our community. Who benefits from your generosity? Do you have particular charities that are special to you? Do you give generously and consistently to the parish? Are you enrolled in electronic giving? Did you donate to our Parish Lenten Project to support Assisi House? Are you a generous or miserly tipper? Can you forgive someone’s debt to you, a traditional practice during a Jubilee year? Even those with limited incomes can share something, as little as it might seem. There may not be equal gifts, but there are equal sacrifices!
We believe in a God who is never outdone in generosity. Whatever we share with others – our time, our talent, or our treasure – comes back to us in ways we might never imagine. We who call ourselves Christian follow the example of Jesus Christ, who gave everything for us. May our Lenten almsgiving transform us into more generous people!
