Page 121 - Mystic Pathways through the Bible

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return again and again. It is indeed virtuous to help mankind with one’s material resources, but there are still higher forms of charity to be cultivated and developed within one’s heart.
A higher aspect of charity exists within your mental attitude. To understand this point, we can re ect upon another teaching of Lord Jesus: Even when you are hurt by your enemies, hold goodwill towards them. Bless those who curse you; have goodwill towards those who revile you; forgive those who have offended you. This is charity of a truly qualitative spiritual nature.
When you are able to inspire courage within a person who is fearful, when you are able to bring sunshine into a heart that is lled with gloom and despair, when you are able to light a candle of understanding in a clouded intellect, when you are able to encourage anything that is good and Divine in others, that is charity of an advanced order.
Therefore, even if you lack material resources, you can still continue to perform amazing acts of charity. Material charity has a very limited scope, but goodwill sets forth a tremendous force. The force of Christ’s charity continues to inspire people today, encouraging them to be generous, self-effacing, enduring, compassionate, and loving.
Another most sublime form of charity is the gift of knowledge, which enables a person to be independent, to discover his hidden talents so that he