Almsgiving: an Expression of Our Closeness to the Poor Part 1

by Fr. Tony Okolo C.S.Sp., V.F.  |  04/06/2025  |  Weekly Reflection

Beloved Parishioners,

As we continue our journey of Lent my reflection is focused on Almsgiving which is one of the three pillars of Lenten observance, alongside prayer and fasting, and is seen as an invitation to grow in solidarity with the poor and the marginalized in recognition that Christ himself identified with the poor.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus reminds us of who his followers are, “For I was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Matthew 25:35). This passage is our authentic motivation and nothing more, coupled with the fact that Lent, as a time of penance and spiritual renewal, is an opportunity for us to realign our hearts with the poor, through almsgiving, since it is an essential part of living out Jesus’ commandment to love our neighbor.

Although almsgiving serves as a tangible way for us to engage in selfless sacrifice and generosity, we must note that it is not simply about donating money or goods like many humanitarian centers do but about developing a spirit of compassion and humility in imitation of Christ. Thus, by giving to the poor during Lent, we make a conscious decision to turn away from selfishness and self-indulgence, choosing instead to live in solidarity with those who suffer so that we may emulate Christ. Almsgiving also provides an excellent opportunity for us to counterbalance the excesses of modern consumerism, which often fosters indifference to the plight of the disadvantaged.

As a parish, our communal observance of almsgiving symbolizes an expression of the Church’s proximity to the poor, especially those who experience poverty, injustice, and exclusion. The Church, as the body of Christ, is called to imitate Christ’s compassion for the marginalized and the Church’s closeness to the poor is not distant or abstract; it is lived out in real, tangible acts of service, from the local parish level as ours, to global humanitarian efforts. We have a pope who is endeared to the poor and whose examples inspire us greatly. Speaking to journalists on March 18, 2013, five days after his election, Pope Francis revealed the motivation behind his regnal name thus: “During the election, I was seated next to Cardinal Claudio Hummes…. When things were looking dangerous, he encouraged me. And when the votes reached the two thirds … he gave me a hug and a kiss and said: “Don’t forget the poor!” Those words came to me: the poor, the poor. Then, right away, thinking of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi …. How I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor.” Since then, Pope Francis has repeatedly called for the Church to be “poor Church for the poor.” In his apostolic exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, he seriously emphasizes the need for Christians to be ever more mindful of the poor, advocating for a Church that works to eliminate poverty not only through charity but also through systemic efforts for justice and equality.

Another conversional attribute of almsgiving during Lent is that it brings us to a reflective awareness of our need to change the way the poor are treated in society. Often these categories of people are despised and denigrated even unconsciously by society and by us. Therefore, by reaching out to them in a respectful and dignified way during Lent, we communicate to them a sense of their own dignity, in the face of the contrary message which they continually receive from society. It is as though we say to them: “the society may look down on you but me, and the God from whom I come, we acknowledge your dignity and recognize its equality with that of everyone in the society.” When we do this with sober reflections and every sense of piety, we extend Jesus’ ministry to them who came “to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the Lord’s year of favor.” (Lk. 4 :18).