If I thought that fasting was difficult and prayer challenging, almsgiving will take me somewhere I never imagined.  Almsgiving is the most expressive of these markers: it requires me to divest myself of some of my goods.  How many of us consider our possessions to belong to me, and something that I earned…exclusively by the sweat of my brow?  As true as the sweat is, that my effort did affect some results, all that I have comes from the Lord.  None of us creates the things we possess from nothing (ex nihilo); the social convention (like the philosophy of John Locke) grants me to claim my dominion over natural items as their owner.  However, these possessions are only in my stewardship, not my ownership.  None of us can take these with us when we die.  None of us can totally control things (or events) as thoroughly as I would like.  None of us is the Lord and Master of my own destiny (see Rom 14:7-9).  

Is this frustrating?  Does this truth make me act out in ways of trying to assert control ….control….MY control?  Don’t go there; in the end I become controlled, I may even lose my integral humanity.  Scripture says,

Idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.
They have mouths but do not speak; eyes but do not see;
They have ears but do not hear, noses by do not smell;
They have hands but do not feel, feet, but do not walk;
Those who make them will become like them;
so are all who trust in them (Ps 115:4-8).

Money might not be this kind of idol but is has a ‘magic’ of being a fetish—something of inordinate value which is not real except in the eye of the beholder gives it.  

Almsgiving begins with the Lord and his generosity.  How magnificent is this great Gift Giver!  It ain’t me; it ain’t got to be me because one God is sufficient.  Bless His Holy Name.  And to the one who gives, God will not be outdone.  This might seem to be just a pious thought, but it is a living reality for the many who go out on a limb in grateful giving.

Almsgiving is sharing with others.  The Early Church faithful saw almsgiving as a way of returning to the poor what rightfully belonged to them.  Now we don’t conclude that we have robbed the poor, at least not directly.  But our surplus comes with some cost.  And what does it mean to have excess money at the end of the day?  What is the drive to accumulate such a thing?  Or has it taken on a surreal life (idol) of its own…to which we give obeisance?  The almsgiving knows better the rightful place of such things and how to use them and distribute them well.

The “rich young man” in Mark 17, having justified himself with obeying all of the commandments regarding his neighbor, goes away sad when Jesus invites him to divest himself of his dependence and importance attributed wealth.  Without his wealth, well, he would not “be himself.”  Au contraire!

Lent invites us to taste dare to learn about our human self-worth that exists beyond our possessions.  Almsgiving is not impoverishment, but it is free divestment of some.  The “tithe” is 10% (meaning I still keep 90%).  What step in Lent might teach me a deep truth of freedom as a child of God, of the prudent use of things under my stewardship, and of the joy of gift-giving?