Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Luke 12:33
“It is an act therefore that becomes the saints, and is worthy of perfect praises, and that wins the crowns above, to set no store by earthly wealth, but distributing it among those that are in need, to gather rather that which is in heaven, and obtain purses that grow not old, and possess a treasure that fails not: and next in order comes the employment of a sort of artifice, so as to obtain those for friends who are especially near unto God, by giving them some portion of their wealth, and comforting the many who are afflicted with poverty, that so they may share what is theirs. And something of this sort the very wise Paul also advises, saying unto those who love wealth: “Let your abundance be for their want, that their abundance also may be for your want.”
Cyril of Alexandria (376-444) in Commentary on St. Luke, volume 2, sermon CVIII (From the Syriac. MS.12,154) 510.
I had a sweet moment last night.
Nerviet Monir (the 66-year old mother of Ereny Monir, the friend with whom I am staying in Alexandria) asked what I thought about what she and her friends were doing to serve the poor. In broken English mixed with Arabic, she shared how she and her friends had collected resources to aid the poor.
Candidly, she wanted to know if it was alright if the funds did not pass through the church. She and her friends were purchasing clothing for children, providing books for college students, and sharing money for people to start small businesses for community development. Again, she asked what I thought of this.
I affirmed her with a smile and loving affirmation. I reminded her that she and her friends are the church, the Body of Christ, and that what they were doing was great. With “perfect praises” I encouraged her to continue in this good work of sharing generously for God’s glory.
Is there someone you could comfort this Advent who is afflicted?