CTK – Almsgiving – Prayer Resources – W/C 24/3/2025

Hello everyone, and welcome back to CTKPray. The prayer theme for this week is Almsgiving.

Almsgiving, like fasting, is a way of strengthening our relationship with God and showing self-discipline. It is an act of charity that expresses our love for others, particularly those in need. Just as fasting allows us to experience sacrifice and self-control, almsgiving invites us to share our blessings and practice generosity. During Lent, almsgiving is a way of living out Jesus’ call to care for the poor and marginalised, reminding us that our faith is not just about personal growth but also about serving others with love and compassion.

Season of Lent

This week, we reflect on the power of almsgiving during Lent—a time to draw closer to God, seek His wisdom, and make room for His presence in our lives.

Lent calls us to step away from selfishness and embrace generosity, creating space for renewal and a deeper connection with God. Almsgiving is not just about giving money or material goods; it’s about sharing our blessings and recognizing the dignity of others. By offering our resources, time, or kindness to those in need, we grow in compassion, detach from worldly possessions, and open our hearts more fully to God’s grace.

By embracing almsgiving this season, we allow God to work within us, strengthening our faith, deepening our hope, and filling us with His love.

Below you will find the weekly readings from Sunday’s mass and scriptures taken from the Hebrew Bible and the New Testament on the theme of Almsgiving.

If you would like to explore your own scriptures, the link below will take you to open bible which allows you to explore scripture on any theme.
https://www.openbible.info/topics/joy

First reading Exod 3:1-8

3 Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

7 Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, 8 and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

Gospel Reading Luke 13:1-9

13 There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vine dresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig round it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’”

Hebrew Bible Isaiah 58: 7-12

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
    and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up speedily;
your righteousness shall go before you;
    the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
    you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
    the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the Lord will guide you continually
    and satisfy your desire in scorched places
    and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
    like a spring of water,
    whose waters do not fail.
12 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
    you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
    the restorer of streets to dwell in.

New Testament Matt 25: 36-40

36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’

Visio Divina, meaning “Divine Seeing,” is a form of prayer in the Catholic Church that involves contemplating religious images or art to encounter God. It is similar to Lectio Divina (sacred reading), but instead of focusing on scripture, the participant meditates on visual representations, such as icons, paintings, or stained glass. The process usually involves several steps: gazing at the image, meditating on its meaning, praying in response to what is seen, and contemplating how the image speaks to one’s life. This practice deepens spiritual insight and fosters a connection with the divine through sacred imagery.

Your mission this week is to … Find a way to give something to charity or to someone in need this week.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us take a moment to reflect on the gift of almsgiving. Just as prayer deepens our faith, almsgiving teaches us generosity, compassion, and a heart attuned to the needs of others. It is through almsgiving that we free ourselves from selfishness and create space for God’s love to work through us.

Let us turn to God with open hearts, seeking His strength and guidance as we give freely and serve others with love.

Heavenly Father,

In this sacred season of Lent, draw us closer to You through almsgiving.
Help us to share generously, recognizing Your blessings in our lives and the needs of those around us.
Teach us to give with joyful hearts, to serve with compassion, and to reflect Your love through our actions.
May our almsgiving open our hearts, strengthen our faith, and deepen our love for You and for all Your children.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

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