The greatly astonishing saying of Solomon equates charity extended to the poor with lending to the Lord, that He would never forget to repay, beyond measures: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done” (Prov 19:17). That is why, even when he was in a financial crisis, Tobit advised his son, Tobias, to practice kindness and generosity, that pleases God and brings showers of blessing in times of need: “Give generously to anyone who faithfully obeys God. If you are stingy in giving to the poor, God will be stingy in giving to you. Give according to what you have. The more you have, the more you should give. Even if you have only a little, be sure to give something. This is as good as money saved. You will have your reward in a time of trouble” (Tobit 4:7-9). The philosopher reveals another advantage of charity, as that would even make up for our failures and sins, and put us in a better position: “Giving to the poor can make up for sin, just as water can put out a blazing fire. Anyone who responds to others with acts of kindness is thinking of the future, because he will find help if he ever falls on hard times” (Sirach 3:30-31). As we are provided by God, let’s realize our duty to extend charity.

Abba, thank You for continuously providing us with our needs. Let Your Spirit convince us to follow the attitude of charity and kindness. In Jesus’ Most Generous Name, Amen.