Sr. Dr. BincyThumpanathu CMC
READING: “My child, be faithful to the Lord all your days. Never entertain the will to sin or to transgress his laws. Do good works all the days of your life, never follow ways that are not upright; for if you act in truthfulness, you will be successful in all your actions, as everyone is who practices what is upright. Set aside part of your goods for almsgiving. Never turn your face from the poor and God will never turn his from you. Measure your alms by what you have; if you have much, give more; if you have little, do not be afraid to give less in alms .… Be careful, my child, in all you do, well-disciplined in all your behaviour. Do to no one what you would not want done to you. Do not drink wine to the point of drunkenness; do not let excess be your travelling companion. Give your bread to those who are hungry, and your clothes to those who lack clothing. Of whatever you own in plenty, devote a proportion to almsgiving; and when you give alms, do it ungrudgingly. Be generous with bread and wine on the graves of upright people, but not for the sinner. Ask advice of every wise person; never scorn any profitable advice. At all times bless the Lord, your God, and ask him that all your paths may be straight and all your endeavors and plans may prosper.…. So now, my child, remember these precepts and never let them fade from your heart” (Tobit 4:5-8, 14-19).
REFLECTION: “Do good works all the days of your life” is the main theme echoed throughout this passage. St. Ignatius of Loyola reminds, love ought to show itself more in deeds rather than words. St. James emphasizes: “faith without deeds is dead” (James 2:17, 26). One of the basic expressions of love is giving. In this passage Tobit advises his son Tobias to be faithful to the Lord by doing good to the poor. He encourages Tobias to give alms; bread to the hungry and garments to the naked. The Church Fathers consistently emphasize the importance of almsgiving. Basil the Great (AD 329-379) reminds: “when someone steals a man’s clothes we call him a thief. Should we not give the same name to one who could clothe the naked and does not? The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry man; the coat hanging unused in your closet belong to the man who needs it; the shoes rotting in your closet belong to the man who has no shoes. The money which you hoard up belongs to the poor.” John Chrysostom (AD 344-407) believed that wealth in the hands of a few was akin to robbery: “this is robbery: not to share one’s resources. Perhaps, what I am saying astonishes you. Yet be not astonished. For I shall offer you the testimony of the Sacred Scriptures, which say that not only to rob other’s property, but also not to share your own with others, is robbery and greediness and theft.” Let us therefore abstain from greed and materialism in order to practice generous love.
The Church strongly encourages charitable activities. By giving alms, one not only helps the less fortunate, but also grows in humanity. Moreover, taking care of the poor is the kind of offering that pleases God in heaven (Tobit 4:11). Tobit also tells Tobias that the love practiced in almsgiving saves one from death and keeps one out of darkness. The theme of almsgiving can be found throughout the Scripture. In Daniel 4:27, the prophet counsels King Nebuchadnezzar to give alms to save him from God’s punishment for his pride. The book of Sirach also mentions about almsgiving and gives warnings for choosing not to help the poor and the needy (Sirach 3:30-4:10). Proverbs also mentions about the dire consequences of failing to help the needy (Proverbs 3:27, 22:9, 28:27). Tobit again insists his son to be circumspect in all things he does and not to do anything that he would not want done to him. This idea can be seen in the golden rule of the New Testament where Jesus reminds one that whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them (Mt 7:12; Lk 6:31). Let us put selfishness behind us and teach ourselves to give with a cheerful heart.
PRAYER: God of all goodness and fountain of grace, grant me a generous heart. God, from whom all good things come, you shower me with many blessings. Inspire me to share what I have with a cheerful heart. Free me from the need to seek security. Fire my heart with compassion for those who suffer and help me to carry your love in whatever I do.
CONTEMPLATION: Make yourself comfortable and close your eyes. Feel the presence of God around and within you. How gracious and merciful is the Lord! Remember with gratitude the many ways in which the Lord has blessed and enriched your life. Meditate and pray: Lord God, make me a true steward of your bounty: where there is a need, let me see it; where there is abundance, let me share it; where there is injury, let me heal it. Spend a few moments in quiet reflection.
ACTION:
- Be generous and meet the needs of others with a joyful heart.
- Let us serve others selflessly.
