Lenten Almsgiving

There are three traditional Lenten mainstays: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Almsgiving, one of the three, usually translates into extending charity. But almsgiving is not mere philanthropy. Almsgiving is a form of prayer, because it is “giving to God.” It is also an act of love because it allows us to step outside ourselves and focus on the needs of others. 

In a time of growing global crises and overwhelming cuts to international development funding by the United States, as Christians we need to live our values of Gospel centred compassionate action.  Funding to programs delivering life-saving aid have been cut, including to many with Canadian affiliates such as the CLWR and the Canadian Food Grains Bank.  (the CLWR and Canadian Food Grains bank are both partners of the Humanitarian Coalition.) 

Because of the drastic cuts many more people will go hungry and some will starve. The Lenten call to almsgiving is an opportunity for us to help fill the gap. It means making the needs of other people your own. 

We have designated the next two Sundays, Lent 5 and Passion Sunday to take up a freewill offering for CLWR as well as the local charity The Harvest Project. Please prayerfully consider how much God is calling you to give. 

Matthew 25: 35-40 provides us with the pattern for Christian living given by Jesus:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless, and you gave me a room,
I was shivering, and you gave me clothes,
I was sick, and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison, and you came to me