Blessed the man who fears the Lord. — Psalm 112:1

 Mass readings: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 / Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 

More Than Money 

When you get to a certain age, you start to realize that the best gifts you’ve given weren’t done with much conscious charitable thought. In fact, you may not even remember them. Someone will mention a letter you wrote, or something you said, and tell you it made an important difference in his or her life. Almsgiving, you learn at some point, is only occasionally in the form of money. 

In today’s first reading, we’re told that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. When I think of the cheerful givers in my life, I remember gifts of quiet encouragement, reassurance of confidence in me when I may have felt little in myself, and steady affection. They weren’t gifts that anyone else knew about, but for the one who received them, they were a reflection of salvation. 

Prayer: Savior, teach me to give the alms that matter most.