The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry one; the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the one who has no shoes; the money you put in the bank belongs to the poor. You do wrong to everyone you could help but fail to help. ~ St. Basil the Great, 4th Century

As we begin this third week in the season of Lent, I want to share a few thoughts about a vital Christian practice that goes back to our earliest stories: the giving of alms.

“Almsgiving” is a word we don’t often use or hear today. More often, we talk about charity, outreach, or service. However, those terms do not quite capture the heart of the traditional concept of giving alms, which has been passed down from the teachings of Jesus.

Almsgiving is a particularly selfless kind of giving—an act of merciful generosity, a practice of love. It is done in private, with no expectation of recognition or reward.
On Ash Wednesday, we read the words of Jesus, who calls his followers to practice good works in secret:
Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ‘So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:1-6)

Almsgiving is an act of generosity and kindness meant to be seen only by God.

Mother Teresa spoke of the poor as “Christ in his distressing disguise.” Jesus himself makes reference to this when he says: “I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me” (Matthew 25:36, RSV). To show compassion to the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned is to love and have mercy upon our neighbor in an incarnate way—in the flesh—especially toward those whose suffering may unsettle or distress us.

Almsgiving expresses a conversion of heart toward others, just as fasting expresses a conversion in relationship with self and prayer turns us toward God. During Lent, we are challenged to be led by God into truer relationship with self, with God, and with others. In turning toward the needs of others, the practice of giving alms forms us more deeply as people of love.

I invite you to make a priority of giving to those who are poor or in need during this season of Lent. Let this be a practice in your daily life, keeping your eyes, ears, and heart open to those around you who ask for help.

I also invite you to give to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund. This fund exists specifically to allow us to respond to those within and beyond our community who come to us with urgent needs. A common misunderstanding is that the Discretionary Fund is some sort of expense account for the Rector’s personal projects. In reality, it is designated to ensure that money is available to respond to the needs of the poor in real time. Although the fund bears the “Rector’s” name, it is a means for our whole community to be responsive in times of need.

Many of the funds disbursed are for needs brought to our attention by others. (You may be interested to know that in lieu of receiving any additional payment for leading weddings or funerals in the parish, I ask instead for donation to be given to help support ministry from the Discretionary Fund.)

At this moment, the needs arising from within our parish community are great, and the balance in the fund is quickly diminishing. There is some urgency in my request that you make an Almsgiving Offering to replenish the store.

Thank you for your responsiveness, generosity, and love—gifts that always amaze me and never surprise me about you.

With you,

The Rev. R. Scott Painter, Rector
Email: ScottP@stmaa.org