Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
At that time,
while Jesus was speaking,
A Pharisee invited him for lunch.
Jesus went into his house and sat down.
The Pharisee was astonished
seeing that he had not first performed ablutions
before the meal.
Le Seigneur lui dit :
« Bien sûr, vous les pharisiens,
you purify the outside of the cup and the platter,
but inside yourselves you are filled
of greed and wickedness.
Insensés ! Celui qui a fait l’extérieur
n’a-t-il pas fait aussi l’intérieur ?
Rather give alms from what you have,
et alors tout sera pur pour vous. »
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
It is alive, energetic, the word of God;
she judges the intentions and thoughts of the heart.
Alleluia. (cf. Heb 4:12)
Enter the scene: a meal, a surprise, a word that cuts through
The Gospel is simple, almost domestic: Jesus accepts a Pharisee's invitation for lunch. We see ourselves there: the table set, conventional gestures, small courtesies. Then, the grain of sand. Jesus does not perform the ritual ablutions. Surprise, discomfort, judgment. Then Jesus lifts the veil: "You purify the outside of the cup... but inside you are full of greed and wickedness." And he opens an unexpected door: "Rather, give alms from what you have, and then everything will be clean for you."
This word, today, crosses our tidy living rooms, our controlled agendas, our impeccable feeds. It comes to touch where nothing is seen: intention, thought, desire. The Word of God does not simply comment on our actions; it inflames the heart to convert it. And the itinerary proposed by Jesus is astonishing: the road to purity does not pass first through the cleanliness of the hands, but through the prodigality of open hands. Almsgiving is not an optional ventilation of our spiritual life; it is its breath.
Purity according to Jesus: the interior counts, but it comes through giving
Jesus' reproach does not oppose the interior and the exterior as two foreign worlds. He reminds us that God made both: "He who made the exterior, did he not also make the interior?" In other words, the interior and the exterior are called to accord. And the hinge of this accord is the gift. Almsgiving, in the Bible, is not a coin thrown at random; it is an act of justice, a way of giving back to God what he entrusts to us for his little ones. It purifies because it decenters, it frees the heart from greed, it breaks the closure.
In our vocabulary, the word "aid" has almost replaced "alms." We talk about solidarity, philanthropy, inclusion. That's good. But "alms" retains a sharp flavor: it reminds us that I am not the absolute owner of what I have. I am the custodian. It places me on the threshold of a mystery: when I give, it is my heart that is cleansed. And when I withhold out of fear, it is my heart that is troubled.
A mirror for our times: cleanliness, performance and appearance
We live in an age of hygiene and moderation. Smartwatches, sleep scores, budget accounts, habit checklists, inboxes with zero unread messages. None of this is bad. But the risk remains: confusing a controlled life with a converted heart. We can display virtue and forget mercy. We can broadcast identity-based or moral messages and remain inwardly closed. We can publish our commitments and no longer see the poor at our door.
The obsession with "cleanliness" has shifted from the kitchen to self-image. We "clean" our news feeds, we "purge" our contacts, we "filter" toxic people. Sometimes, it's essential to living. But if that's all that remains, the outside shines and the inside dries up. Almsgiving, on the other hand, introduces porosity: it opens a breach for mercy to circulate.
Translate "Give alms instead" today
What does "give what you have" mean in our urban, digital, and often time-sensitive lives? The question calls for a variety of answers.
- Give money regularly, according to your means. Regularity purifies the fear of missing out. Discretion purifies the ego.
- Give time: visits, phone calls, babysitting, administrative help. Giving time purifies impatience.
- Pay attention: listen without notifications, gaze that doesn't shift, name that is remembered. Paying attention purifies distraction.
- Give a space: an open table, a guest room, a shared office nook. Hospitality purifies the property.
- Give a skill: translate, repair, code, cook, advocate. Service purifies vanity.
- Give a word: affirmation of dignity, forgiveness requested, blessing offered. The word that blesses purifies the tongue.
- Empower: Recommend, introduce, co-opt. Opening a door purifies the instinct for control.
Everyone has something. Jesus doesn't say, "Give what you don't have"; he says, "Give what you have." Right where you are, with what you have, today.
A little exegesis: when alms cleanse the heart
In the biblical tradition, almsgiving is linked to justice. It is often associated with fasting and prayer. Luke, the evangelist of mercy, emphasizes that almsgiving "erases" or "covers" a multitude of sins not as a transaction, but as a fire that consumes selfishness. The Greek word for "pure" is katharos: free from admixtures. Almsgiving clarifies desire, removes the sand from the heart's inner workings.
"Give what you have instead" reads like a pedagogy: if you want to stop withdrawing into yourself, start by circulating what you are holding onto. You will discover the joy of decluttering, not for yourself first, but for them. And in return, you will become free.
A word that cuts through our intentions
The alleluia of Heb 4:12 sets the tone: the Word of God judges the thoughts of the heart. Not to condemn, but to discern what is alive and what is closed. Sometimes we no longer know whether we give out of love or calculation. The Word, like a scalpel, separates one from the other. It preserves the element of gratuity, it names the element of strategy. It does not tolerate voluntary ambiguity, those little arrangements where we "give" to gain reputation, assuage guilt, buy peace of mind. It brings us back to the essential: to give in order to love, to love in order to live.
The Faces of Greed Today
Greed isn't just the love of money. It's rooted in constant comparison, anxious security, and a refusal to be bothered.
- Greed for security: I hoard contacts, options, diplomas, depriving myself of the joy of sharing.
- Greed for image: I mainly give what is seen and what is well told.
- Greed for time: I don't allow any margin for the unexpected; I live tight, for fear of losing control.
- Attention greed: I prefer streams that confirm me to those that confront me.
- Emotional greed: I withhold forgiveness for fear of being hurt again.
Almsgiving purifies each of these greeds not by a great heroic overthrow, but by small, concrete, regular, sometimes hidden acts.
An ecology of giving in the real economy
We are experiencing inflation, insecurity, and energy concerns. Giving is not naive. It is a choice of priorities. The gift economy does not replace the market economy, but it humanizes it. Every act of giving freely reintroduces breathing space into a strained social fabric.
- Set a realistic percentage for regular donations. Even if it's modest, it's stable.
- Choose loyalty over brilliance: 10 euros a month is better than 100 once as a reaction.
- Diversify: a distant cause, a proximity, an emergency.
- Add presence: Switch from credit cards to shared coffee when possible.
The purity promised by Jesus is not just individual. It is communal: thus, "all things will be pure for you." We purify one another when generosity circulates.
The Digital Age: Attention Alms and Scroll Hygiene
Digital technology distributes our attention like currency. What does “giving alms” mean in this world?
- Stop spreading unnecessary outrage. Give the benefit of the doubt and verify before sharing.
- Give visibility to discreet voices: artists, associations, neighbors.
- Leave kind and accurate comments. Accuracy purifies flattery.
- Write private messages of gratitude. Gratitude purifies comparison.
- Practice a weekly notification fast and offer that time to a visit or call.
Giving one's attention in charity is giving people back the dignity of not being just "content."
The gesture, the rule, the joy: a little rule of life
Without regularity, good intentions run out. A small, flexible, and realistic rule makes generosity habitable.
- On Monday, I plan a financial donation and a phone call.
- On Wednesdays, I spend 30 minutes providing practical help (paperwork, shopping).
- On Fridays, I pray specifically for two people I have met.
- On Sundays, I invite or open a slot of simple hospitality.
Regularity doesn't extinguish the spirit; it fuels it. And joy often comes when you least expect it.
Obstacles: fear of being duped, compassion fatigue, lack of clarity
- Fear of being duped: If risk paralyzes you, choose reliable channels and keep a small portion for the unexpected. Mistakes do not cancel out the value of the gift.
- Compassion fatigue: Alternate intense engagement with rest. Compassion is a muscle: it needs training and recovery.
- Lack of clarity: Write down your impulses and turn them into appointments. Intention becomes action when it enters the agenda.
Purity does not mean naivety. It means alignment between what I confess and what I choose.
Families: Educating through gestures and stories
- A visible common pot where everyone puts a coin for a project chosen together.
- A “kindness bag” in the bag: tissues, bars, sweet words.
- Stories of saints, neighbors, and anonymous people who give. Children imitate what they admire.
Purity of heart is conveyed by busy hands and bright eyes.
When the gift heals the giver: three vignettes
- The commuter: On the subway, he gets off a stop early to walk with a homeless person, not to "solve" his situation, but to listen. He finds his own loneliness dissipating.
- The retiree: she cooks once a week for local students. Her grief is softened by the scent of thyme and evening laughter.
- The student: she voluntarily translates documents for migrant families. Her anxieties find relief in humble usefulness.
Giving does not erase pain, but it directs it towards life.
Inside/outside: God made both
Jesus does not despise ablutions. He criticizes them for becoming an alibi. Today, our "ablutions" take the form of routines of well-being, performance, and showmanship. Let us keep them if they serve charity. Let us abandon them if they replace it. The truth of purity is unity: the cup is clean on the outside because the heart is cleansed by giving.
The table, a place of conversion
The scene is played out at the table. Our meals can also become Eucharistic through attention, gratitude, and the space left for others.
- Leave a place setting free in the heart, otherwise on the table.
- Start by thanking those who made the food possible.
- Reduce waste and share leftovers.
Purity also comes from what we choose to buy, cook, and share.
The test of reality: when it's complicated
Sometimes giving seems to exacerbate dependency dynamics. Sometimes we run into opaque systems. So, we have to learn.
- Train yourself to listen (without saving, without erasing yourself).
- Rely on local collectives.
- Set clear boundaries, explained respectfully.
Purity is experienced in complexity, not in sanitization.
“All things shall be clean unto you”: Community promise
Jesus speaks in the plural. Almsgiving not only purifies the individual, it cleanses the community: families, teams, parishes, cities. Where giving circulates, mistrust diminishes, speech calms down, and creativity is reborn.
- In a team: a “common good” budget for care actions.
- In a parish: a simple liturgy that opens onto concrete acts of hospitality.
- In a city: meeting spaces where we share know-how.
The social fabric is cleansed by capillarity.
Sober Joy: The Aesthetics of the Pure Heart
The pure heart is not the perfect soul. It is unmixed. It learns a sober, unflashy joy, recognizable by discreet signs:
- A calm availability.
- A tender humor.
- Freedom from view.
The world awaits this joy without naming it. It is contagious through proximity.
Simple route: three weeks to unlock the gift
Week 1: See. Each day, note a face encountered, a perceived need, a thank you expressed.
Week 2: Take action. Two concrete actions: a material donation and a donation of time.
Week 3: Reread. What did I feel? What resisted? What joy arose?
This little cycle, repeated, polishes the heart as one polishes a stone by the river.
Prayer: Request for an adjusted heart
Lord Jesus,
You sit at our tables and look into our hearts.
You see our fears, our calculations, our beautiful appearances.
Grant us to love the simplicity that gives,
measure out what is necessary, offer the surplus,
share even what we believe is essential.
Purify our intentions through the joy of encounter.
Teach us the gesture that lifts,
the word that restores,
the silence that listens.
Then, by your grace, everything will be pure for us. Amen.
Short prayer before leaving home
Lord,
put in my pocket an available kindness,
in my gaze a place for the other,
in my hands a joyful offering.
Keep me from gestures that humiliate,
inspire me those who humanize.
Make me light and generous. Amen.
Confession of the Heart: End of Day Exam
- Where did I hold back out of fear?
- Where did I give to be seen?
- Where did I let the Spirit disturb me?
- Who can I call tomorrow?
The examination does not judge to punish, but to reorient. Purity grows from correction to correction.
Forgiveness as alms
There is a charity more difficult than money: forgiveness. It sometimes costs more than a bank transfer. To forgive is to give back to the other the possibility of being other than their fault. This charity purifies deeply, because it touches our wounds. It heals slowly, like a scar that does not close in a day.
- When possible, name the injury.
- When it is not safe, surrender to God and let go of the inner chain.
- Seek mediation if necessary.
Forgiveness is not forgetting or impunity. It is deliverance.
The sacraments and the gift: Eucharist, reconciliation, mission
- The Eucharist: we receive to become what we receive. The body given by Jesus becomes the style of our gestures.
- Reconciliation: God never tires of purifying us. Confession exposes greed, absolution reopens circulation.
- The Mission: the grace received is not stored, it is shared.
The more we give, the more the source within us is nourished. This is the Christian paradox.
A humble alchemy: from habit to virtue
Philosophers spoke of habitus: a stable disposition acquired through repeated acts. Almsgiving becomes a virtue when the gesture is no longer a wrench, but second nature. It does not abolish vigilance: it makes it joyful. A pure heart is not a naive heart; it is a solid heart, made simple by the practice of charity.
Domestic Parables of Giving
- The closet: open a “transitions” shelf to accommodate what I no longer need and which will be essential for someone else.
- The schedule: leave an “interruptible” slot each week for the unexpected.
- The telephone: every Sunday evening, a message of blessing to someone we neglect.
These tiny, insistent gestures become a style.
When almsgiving becomes prophetic
Giving can challenge unjust structures. Almsgiving is not just individual compassion; it can become a sign that questions.
- Hire with a second look.
- Buying solidarity even when it’s not optimal.
- Reject the throwaway culture.
Prophetic doesn't mean heroic every day. Prophetic means faithful, public when needed, creative always.
Prayer for the city
God of mercy,
you know the worn sidewalks and the tired hearts.
Bless our neighborhood,
the hands that heal, those that reach out,
the doors that open and the looks that support.
Teach us the art of urban almsgiving:
a presence that does not press,
a word that does not judge,
a gesture that does not calculate.
May your peace insinuate itself into our streets. Amen.
Prayer for screens
Lord,
on my screens, put a lamp.
That I seek the truth,
that I avoid vain glory,
that I make room for the little ones.
Keep me from easy anger,
give me the courage of gentleness.
Make my attention an offering. Amen.
Almsgiving as spiritual decluttering
We accumulate objects, but also regrets, obligations, images. Giving is creating emptiness so that God can breathe within us. Some practice seasonal material sorting; why not spiritual sorting?
- To lay a grudge before God and offer a blessing in its place.
- Forgo an expense to fund another's joy.
- Replace a 20-minute scroll with a visit.
The pure heart is recognized by its breath. It does not pant, it breathes.
Rereading Jesus at the Table: Pedagogy through Contrast
At the table, Jesus reverses expectations. He doesn't wound to humiliate; he cuts to liberate. His words can prick our self-esteem. If so, good news: we've been touched. The next question: What concrete decision will I make this week?
- Set an amount, an appointment, a name.
- Write the commitment on a piece of paper and slip it under the cross, on the table, in your wallet.
- Give thanks when it is done.
Grace is inscribed in reality through the ink of small resolutions.
When giving meets the limit: agreeing not to do everything
Purity is not perfection. It knows how to say no in order to say yes. There are causes we will not support, people we cannot closely accompany. The humility of giving consists of accepting to be a link, not the entire chain. God does not need our omnipresence; he desires our fidelity.
The joy of knowing oneself dispossessed
The poor Christ teaches us the freedom of "mine, yours, ours." When something remains too precious to be imagined sharing, a small alarm can go off. What if I started by lending? What if I shared access, a tool, a book? The heart expands through trial and error. One step, then another.
Availability request
Holy Spirit,
opens a passage in me.
Untie my clenched fingers,
expand my margins,
shifts my priorities.
Make me a resting place for the weary,
a shelter for the worried,
a discreet witness of your goodness.
May my “yes” become bread, key, ear. Amen.
Alms and justice: two legs, one step
If almsgiving is one leg, justice is another. One responds to the emergency, the other works on the cause. We will only walk well with both.
- Alms: I raise, here and now.
- Justice: I inform myself, I get involved, I vote, I plead.
Purity of heart is not apolitical; it is free from any camp, oriented by dignity.
Purify through beauty: art as alms
To create is to give form to a gift. Offering a song, a poem, a painting, a photo, a bouquet, can lift a heart. Beauty is not superfluous: it cleanses the eye. Anyone who has ever received a handwritten card in a dark time knows the power of these delicate gifts.
- Write a note by hand every week.
- Share a loved book, not a junk book.
- Offer a moment of silence with soothing music.
Beauty pacifies. It prepares the heart for encounter.
Seasons of Giving: Adapting Without Letting Go
There are seasons of overflowing generosity, others of withdrawal. The arrival of a child, an illness, a job search. Adapting doesn't mean giving up. Sometimes, giving takes the form of asking for help. Receiving also purifies the pride of "I can manage."
- Dare to say: “I need.”
- Let someone cook us a meal, carry a bag, pray for us.
The gift flows both ways. Refusing to receive can block grace in the other.
Prayer when you are exhausted
Lord,
I don't have much left.
Take this little:
a tired smile,
two minutes of listening,
a crumpled coin.
You did the outside and the inside:
come purify my weariness
by the sweetness of your presence.
If I cannot do, teach me to be.
If I cannot give, teach me to receive.
And let that be enough for today. Amen.
A criterion of discernment: humble peace
After a gesture of giving, a discreet sign often confirms its correctness: a gentle peace, a simple light. If, on the contrary, agitation and resentment grow, it is useful to reread: have I exceeded my limits? Have I imposed my help? Have I sought my image? Purity advances by correcting itself.
The memory of the poor: allowing oneself to be evangelized
The poor evangelize us. Their patience, their humor, their creativity teach us something about God. Almsgiving, gratefully received, becomes a school. It reveals our blind spots: our attachments, our fears, our illusions. "Heb 4:12" is fulfilled: the Word judges our intentions, often through the eyes of the little ones.
Prayer with open hands
Lord,
here are my hands.
You see their calluses, their tremors, their voids.
Fill them with what you want to give through me,
empty them of what I hold too tightly.
May no one leave feeling heavier for having met me.
Let me not confuse efficiency with charity.
Let my actions speak of you without noise. Amen.
A simple method to decide
- Name: what is the need?
- Evaluate: What do I have to give without harming my responsibilities?
- Choose: what can I do now, what can I plan?
- Entrust: pray briefly for the person.
- Act: take action.
- Reread: what do I remember from this moment?
This little method brings order so that the mind remains free.
Almsgiving as a liturgy of the week
Make the week a liturgy of giving:
- Mercy Monday: a pardon to be expressed.
- Skills Tuesday: Offering know-how.
- Listening Wednesday: A coffee without a phone.
- Gratitude Thursday: a letter, a message.
- Fast Friday: Save to Give.
- Saturday of presence: a visit.
- Hospitality Sunday: an invitation, even a simple one.
Repetition transforms the inner landscape.
When the word becomes home
"Let us acclaim the Word of God." To acclaim is to make room, to embrace. If the Word is "living and energetic," it is not content with a frame on a wall. It wants a corner in our homes. A verse on the fridge, a notebook of impulses noted near the entrance, a prayer on the table. Everyday life becomes a tabernacle.
Morning Offering Prayer
Lord,
from dawn I offer you
my projects, my hesitations, my encounters.
Make my hours into inns,
of my service tasks,
from my annoyances opportunities for sweetness.
Teach me to give before I am asked,
and to respect the other's "no."
May my day be like you: simple, given, true. Amen.
Hope for the promise: “then everything will be clean for you”
This promise is realistic. It doesn't say "everything will be easy," but "everything will be pure." Purity is transparency: what I do, I do before God, for the good of others, with peace of mind. This unity heals. It makes our words credible, it makes our lives desirable.
The road is open. It begins with a small gesture, today. Perhaps a planned donation, a bag of groceries, a visit, a message, a pardon. This small "yes" opens the way to another. And little by little, the inside and the outside come together. God made both; he unifies them through the gift.
Final prayer: ask for the grace of consistency
Faithful God,
You call us to consistency.
You do not oppose the interior and the exterior:
you harmonize them in charity.
Save us from spiritual fireworks.
Teach us the slowness of good that takes root,
the quiet joy of a heart that simplifies itself,
the laughter of the poor who bless us.
Through Jesus, who allowed himself to be “interrupted” for us,
and who gives himself again, broken bread,
make us men and women
who give what they have,
and receive from you what they are. Amen.
