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
“I say this not to condemn you, but for the sake of those who are negligent. You know that, whenever I see you taking wing, I desire you to fly still higher, for such is the tyranny of love. And just as lovers of money are never sated with gathering gold, I too always desire your spiritual progress. Therefore, brother, if you wish to be received by God, fast as the Ninevites. They did not receive the Law, as Paul said: For when the nations who have not the Law do, by nature, the things of the Law, they are a Law to themselves, though they have not the Law. Do not, then, render the fast futile, because fasting does not ascend to heaven by itself but only when it has almsgiving as its sister and companion. And she is not only her sister and companion, but also a conveyance. And how do we know this? Because the angel said to Cornelius: Your prayers and your almsgiving have ascended as a memorial before God.”
John Chrysostom (347-407) in On Fasting and Almsgiving.
This phrase “fast as the Ninevites” really struck me.
Fast as if your life depends on it. And combine almsgiving to it as the companion and conveyance. Today’s Scripture affirms that God sees this combination.
But don’t just do it. Do it as if your life depends on it. And see what happens.