Charity
Generosity is at the heart of every Jubilee, rooted in its biblical origins as a time of freedom, restoration, and sharing. In Leviticus 25, the Jubilee called for freeing the oppressed, forgiving debts, and restoring municipal bonds. All of these require a spirit of communal generosity. The Church carries this spirit into modern Jubilees, emphasising mercy, reconciliation, and service.
For the Jubilee of Hope, Pope Francis encourages us to share hope by embodying Christ’s love in concrete acts of generosity. By giving our time and resources to others, especially the vulnerable, we have a tangible opportunity to live out the Gospel.
What sparks the flame of true generosity within us?
“We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Our acts of love and generosity are not merely born from a sense of obligation but flow from the deep well of God’s constant forgiveness and relentless grace. When we increase our awareness on how God loves us unconditionally—bearing our weaknesses, forgiving our failings, and continually inviting us into His embrace—we are transformed. Love does not leave us unchanged; it opens our hearts to the needs and struggles of others, drawing us out of ourselves to share the same self-giving love we have received.
As we allow God’s love to work through us, we become, as St Paul describes, a “fragrance of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15), spreading His compassion and mercy to others. This transformation is beautifully expressed in the prayer often recited by the Missionaries of Charity:
“Dear Jesus, help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Yours.”
By asking God to make us vessels of His presence, we invite Him to use our words, actions, and very being to carry His hope and love to others. Love, when rooted in our experience of God, reshapes us into instruments of His hope, making our lives an echo of His relentless generosity.
Practical Steps to Live Generously
Financial Help: Give to charitable organisations and missions that bring hope to the poor, sick, and marginalised.
Time and Talents: Volunteer in your local parish or community. Whether it’s helping at a food bank, lending a hand in catechism and mass animation, or visiting the elderly, your time is a valuable gift.
Daily Generosity: Follow the example of saints like St. Teresa of Calcutta, who taught us, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” A small but thoughtful gesture, like listening to someone in need or a smile to a stranger, can truly mean a lot.
Prayer for Others: Offer your prayers for those enduring suffering. Pope Francis reminds us that when we intercede for others before the Father, we draw closer to imitating the Son, the ultimate intercessor for humanity. We thus intercede in Jesus to the Father.
Extend Your Hand: Charities to Consider
- LOOP
- Dar tal-Providenza
- Caritas Malta
- Fondazzjoni Sebħ
- Church Homes for the Elderly
- Migrants Commission
- Soup Kitchen OFM Valletta
- Segretarjat Assistenza Soċjali
- Missio Malta
- Life Network
- Paolo Freire Institute
- JRS Malta
- St Jeanne Antide Foundation
- Salesians of Don Bosco – Osanna Pia
- Dar Hosea
- Fondazzjoni Suret il-Bniedem
- Dar Merħba Bik
- Għaqda Maltija għat-Trasport tal-Morda F’Lourdes
- Dar Frate Jacoba
- Society St Vincent De Paul
- The Millenium Chapel
- Labaratorju tal-Paċi Ġwanni XXII