Almsgiving is not a secondary practice in the Christian life, but an integral part of a vibrant and fruitful spiritual life.
On Trending with Timmerie, Timmerie reflects on almsgiving as an essential expression of mercy, grounding her message in Christ’s teaching from Matthew 25. She emphasizes that when Jesus speaks of judgment, He points directly to the works of mercy, revealing their central place in the Christian life.
As Timmerie explains, almsgiving is not limited to financial giving, but encompasses both the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. These include caring for physical needs such as feeding the hungry and visiting the sick, as well as guiding souls through acts like instructing the ignorant and forgiving offenses. These works should be woven into daily life, especially within the family. Parents, in particular, are already living many of these acts through their ordinary responsibilities.
We are called to recognize Christ in others. Timmerie shares a formative moment from confession, when a priest encouraged her to love others not merely for their own sake, but for Christ present within them. This perspective is echoed in the witness of Mother Teresa, who remained faithful in her service by keeping her eyes fixed on Christ.
Timmerie stresses that acts of mercy often become second nature when lived consistently, and that they are a powerful means of sanctification. Drawing on Saint Leo the Great, she underscores that a good life is incomplete without charity, and that almsgiving carries deep spiritual significance, even in relation to sin and salvation.
Opportunities to fulfill acts of mercy are everywhere, especially in family life. These moments, though challenging, are ways to serve Christ concretely. Timmerie encourages listeners to see these small acts as meaningful expressions of love and to examine their lives regularly, asking how they are practicing mercy each day.
Almsgiving is not optional, but a vital path to holiness. It’s an invitation to each person to encounter and serve Christ in others with humility and love.
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