Almsgiving Takes Many Forms And Happens Daily Around Us
As you read this, less than two weeks remain in our 2015 Lenten journey. Many times since Feb. 18 – Ash Wednesday – we have heard the phrase that defines these 40 days of preparation … prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
We can do each daily, year-round. And it has occurred to me that pages of this newspaper have heralded some folks for whom almsgiving occurs from New Year’s Day to New Year’s Eve.
Tonya Schmitt is one. Recently retired after 15 years as the coach and mentor of young women on the Reitz Memorial High School Tigerettes dance team, Schmitt volunteered. She gave freely; and to hear those who benefited from her service tell it, it might not have been possible to actually pay her enough for what she provided to scores of dancers since the turn of the 21st century.
Resurrection Catholic School’s two “first-grade Jennifers” (my name for them) – teachers Jennifer Meyer and Jennifer Vangampler – are others like Schmitt. They give beyond any expectations through the Make A Difference program. Teaching youngsters the joy and fulfillment – and, yes, the value – of helping others without expectation of return is truly remarkable and worth celebrating.
The youth group at St. Ferdinand Parish, who supports a Haitian community in a variety of ways … individually and collectively, include almsgiving in their lives.
Anyone reading this who volunteers … you also fit this mold.
Maybe you disagree. Some will, I suspect, because they attach money to the term almsgiving. And while financial contributions are important ways that all of us can answer the call for almsgiving, a quick trip to Webster reveals something fascinating.
The archaic definition of almsgiving is, simply, charity. And from here, charity at its most fundamental level involves a focus on loving your neighbor as yourself. If you truly do that, I don’t believe it’s possible to be anything other than charitable.
Lent often finds some of us beating ourselves up for not doing things. None of us is perfect; we all must practice continuous improvement in any number of areas.
That being said, won’t you consider something a bit different over the next 7-10 days? Consider taking a hard look at your life with an eye toward all the ways you practice charity. Think about the concept of continuous improvement mentioned above.
Pray for God’s guidance – in showing you how almsgiving can be part of your daily routine.
