Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God.” Acts 10:4
“Prayer, above all, can guard continuously for us the luster of this spiritual garment. Along with prayer goes generosity in almsgiving, which is our crowning good deed…
Prayer together with almsgiving, can furnish us with countless good things from above. They can quench the fire of sin in our souls and can give us great freedom.
Cornelius had recourse to these two virtues and sent his prayers up to heaven. Because of these two virtues he heard the angel say: “Thy prayers and thy alms have gone up and been remembered in the sight of God.”
John Chrysostom in Baptismal Instructions 7.27, trans. by Paul W. Harkins (London: Longmans, Green, and Company, 1963) 115. Keen insights from the good doctor, John Chrysostom (meaning “golden-mouthed” for his rich wisdom).
God sees us on our Lenten journey. He hears our prayers. They guard us like a garment. And He sees our giving. It really does quench the fire of sin because our heart follows where we put God’s money.
The word ‘remember’ is significant for me in this regard. Even as God remembered the prayers and gifts of Cornelius. He remembers ours. And in Guatemala this weekend, I am teaching on Nehemiah, who six times asked God to ‘remember’ Him.
My point today is this pertaining to Christian generosity. God hears our prayers. He sees our gifts. He remembers us. Our biggest temptation in tough times is to think that He has forgotten us, that He will not be there for us when we need Him.
If you have a full day today, like I do, be sure to include prayer and service to others with confidence. God hears us. He sees us. And He will remember us in our time of need even as we have remembered others.