At His Second Coming Christ will bless and condemn us.
He will bless them on His right hand because they have given alms and have shown love and He will condemn them on the left because they have been deprived of these virtues.
The alms goes up to the throne of God and lowers God's mercy on man. Mercy offers, Mercy finds, Love scatters, Love accepts.
We don't have to have too many things to be merciful about. And a little something to offer with love, counts so much in the sight of God before God. So with all the power we have, let's help and be merciful.
Abraham was the richest man in his time, but also the richest in alms. As was his heart, so was his hand.
Christ told us that if we have an option and can offer something to the brother, he will owe it to us in heaven and it will represent us a thousand times more.
Here on earth we give tithes in front of the good that God gives us. We deposit here to find them upstairs. After all, is anything of our own? "Thine own of Thine own." What we give is what God gives us.
Alms is not only meant to offer something material, but more valuable is to offer something spiritual. What is this spiritual charity? It's when I forgive an enemy of mine. Instead of condemning him, I am merciful, I don't blame him, I don't hate him, but I pray for him. This is the greatest charity a Christian can do.
… There are other kinds of spiritual alms. For example, I am physically assisting a person who cannot work or serve. There are so many patients, so many of our brothers, who need support. I go and comfort the desperate.
Everyone suffers from skepsis, from thoughts, from psychological problems; and everyone needs the alms of a good word, a word of consolation. I visit the prisoners, the sick, the helpless, the old people. I drive a sinner to the confession and there his sins are forgiven and he becomes worthy of eternal life. I make peace for a couple who are in danger of breaking up their marriage, and they are not divorcing. I help someone else do a good act of charity.
And above all, spiritual alms is the prayer we make for all of our brothers and especially for our enemies…
Let us thank God in our souls for claiming to be Orthodox Christians and having the opportunity to be merciful and strive to be with Him in His eternal glory. Amen.
From the book: "Spiritual Speeches" - Elder Ephraim Philotheitou - Orthodox Kipseli Publications.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.