If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday…
They would knock on the car windows, begging for alms. Sometimes, I would give them something but most of the time, I would not. What is worse, I would even comment that these children are part of a syndicate, so giving them money would mean “feeding” the syndicate.
I would see them sitting or lying on the streets, begging for alms. Sometimes, I would give them something but most of the time, I would not. What is worse, I would even comment - they seem to look to be in such good health: they are just so lazy! They could work. They are young and even look stronger than me.
God would see me kneeling, praying for something that I need, or even begging for something that I want. Sometime, He would give it to me immediately but most of the time, He would not. And then I would comment, He does not love me, He does not care.
It is really our nature to want to receive more than to give. When it comes to giving to others, we are sometimes very stingy. But when it comes to asking for something, we even “want the whole world”. One must take from oneself and give to others. And we don’t just give alms. We must do so cheerfully and not reluctantly, secretly and not for the praise of men. And you may not care anymore how he use it – as what St. John Vianney had said – “The poor will be judged on the use they have made of their alms, and you will be judged on the very alms that you could have given but haven't.”
Let us pray the prayer of St, Ignatius Loyola +
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous; teach me to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to heed the wounds, to toil and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to seek reward, except that of knowing that I do your will.
Amen +
Teach me your way, Oh Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
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