Category: Sermons

“Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Virtuous Charity is a sense of love and kindness towards all others. It is considered the ultimate perfection of human spirit because it both glorifies and reflects the nature of God. Charitable love comes from the will, and does not change regardless of what emotions it stirs up.

Christian Charity

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” -1 John 4:8

In Christian theology, Charity is a form of love that resembles the love between God and man. This love is manifest in unselfish love of one’s neighbors. Jesus Christ was the ultimate expression and perfect example of this love.

In the book of Matthew, a Pharisee later asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?” Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (22:36-40)

Charity is a virtue that when ordered correctly unites us with God. Jesus’ words tell us that loving God and our neighbors is most important. Everything else in the bible depends on this commandment, and Christians can exemplify this love through generosity. In the book of Corinthians, the apostle Paul describes Charity and its importance:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away…
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13:1-12

Paul’s meaning here is that no matter how strong, faithful, intelligent, or talented we may be, if we do not use these gifts to help each other it is a waste. Charity is virtue applied.

Islamic Charity

“Do not turn away a poor man even if all you can give is half a date. If you love the poor and bring them near you God will bring you near Him on the Day of Resurrection.”- Al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 1376

In Islam, Charity is not recommended but required of every financially stable Muslim. One of the five pillars of Islam (five basic acts considered mandatory by believers) is Charity. The belief is those who have more than they need should help those who are less fortunate.

The Qu’ran gives specific instruction on how Charity should be implemented. Muslim law imposes a graduated tax on the wealthy for the benefit of the poor. The rate is 2 percent, and this figure is applied to both income and current holdings. The poor do not pay this tax, but those in the middle and upper class should annually give some of their wealth to the poor.

Those who are charitable are looked upon with favor, especially those who give in secret. The Qu’ran says: “If you give charity in public, it is worthwhile (for it will persuade others), but if you hide and deliver it to the poor in secret that is better for you. And Allah will remove from you some of your sins due to this Charity.” (Al-Bawarah 2:271)

In Arabic, this kind of charity is called zakat. Zakat literally means “purification”, because it purifies the greed out of one’s heart. It is not wrong to be wealthy, but if one acquires wealth for it’s own sake and does not share it with others in need, his actions are condemned. People should acquire wealth with the intention of spending it on their needs of others as well as their own.

Those with wealth are obligated to respond to the struggling members of the community. In Islam, God is the true owner of everything. All wealth comes from God, it is not ours to hoard in greed, or to lend out on interest. Islam is the antithesis of this kind of attitude. Wealth is meant to be shared with those who need help getting back on their feet.

Hindu Charity

“Sanity-destined people have these character traits: Acts of charity, self-restraint, sacrifice, dedication to the study of scriptures, austerity and uprightness.” -Bhagavad Gita, 16.1

Central to Hindu belief are the four yogas. When most of us hear “yoga” we are likely to think of stretching, breathing exercises, and foam mats. But yoga has a different context in Hinduism. Yoga means uniting with the ultimate goal by being placed under disciplined training. There are four yogas, or four paths to truth.

One of the yogas is Bhakti Yoga, the path to God through love. The goal of Bhakti Yoga is to direct toward God the love that lies in the human heart. Love is the most powerful emotion, and our lives are powered more by emotion than reason.

Followers of Bhakti Yoga don’t strive to completely understand God, but instead to love God with every element of their being. This means not just to claim that love, but to love dearly, and everything else in life is loved in relation to God. This love is not for freedom or to be loved in return, but for love’s sake alone.

Here Hinduism and Christianity find common ground. Hinduism would view Christianity as a brilliantly lit highway toward God because all the basic principles of Bhakti Yoga are exemplified in Christianity.

When one has a heart full of love, that love in turn encourages Charity and generosity. The elevated love, called prema, is a sacrament. It is selfless, not expecting anything in return. When people give generously, this is called _daa_n. It’s practice has the effect of purifying the mind of the giver. The reciprocal relationship between love and generosity work towards bringing one closer to God.

Charity Across Religions

Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism see Charity through a different viewpoint, and each religion brings out it’s different aspects. That all seem to agree that true Charity is given without any expectation of reward or recognition.

Christian Charity is synonymous with love. Love connects us with God, and loving God and our neighbor as ourself is the greatest commandment. We can follow Jesus’ example by giving from a place of love, and without any thought of reward.

Charity in Islam is implemented in a more direct way: it is law that the wealthy give to the poor and needy. Whatever wealth one may have comes from God, and that person has a responsibility to give some of it away. When we give without the desire for reward or recognition, we are purifying our souls.

Hinduism is much like Christianity in it’s approach to Charity. Charity should come from a place of love. When we love with our whole being and act with generosity and benevolence, our minds are purified. By continuing this path, one may reach God.

How Can I Be Charitable?

Donate things you don’t need. Some of the easiest items to donate include clothes, books, utensils, shoes, and toys. Charities with thrift stores will sell these items to raise cash for their charity. Day cares, hospitals, and churches may also accept donated items. Donating older items you don’t need anymore is a great way to practice charity for those who have a tight budget.

Volunteer. Our time can be as valuable as money or donated items. As a volunteer, you are working to further to goals of whatever organization you choose. Often times, volunteers are needed for community projects and by helping, you are helping your community. Volunteers can also serve those in need more directly by working with children, in soup kitchens or in retirement homes.

You can also be charitable in your everyday life. If you see someone who needs a hand, help them out. This may include giving someone a battery jump, helping someone move, or helping someone with directions. These situations happen at random, but by keeping an eye out we can find instances where we can demonstrate Charity.

“‘Purity?’ they ask. And they smile. They are the ones who go on to marriage with worn-out bodies and disillusioned souls.” – St. Josemaria Escriva

In this day and age, when someone hears about Chastity they may think of abstinence, modesty, and celibacy. Those who practice these things are guarding themselves from certain aspects of sexuality. They resist the over-sexualization that is happening in American culture and are sometimes looked down on because of it.

Being Chaste does not necessarily mean shying away from sex. Chastity is sexual behavior of a man or woman that is in accordance with the moral standards of their religion and culture. In many religions, acts that are sexual in nature are prohibited outside of marriage.

Christian Chastity

“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” – Ephesians 5:3

In Christian traditions, Chastity is identical to sexual purity. This means not having any sexual relations before marriage. It also includes loyalty to one’s husband or wife during marriage. When God created humans he declared that we were good and that we should be fruitful and multiply. After the fall, humankind’s sexual desires were distorted and became impure. The Bible is clear on the dangers of an impure heart:

Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20

According to the Bible, any voluntary sexual arousal or act outside of a union between husband and wife is sinful.

To an oversexed world this is outrageous. After all, sex feels good and is necessary for the continuation of our species. How can it be bad? People who believe this don’t understand why Chastity is important to keeping a true and virtuous soul. Impurity and lust are sicknesses, and when uncontrolled are precursors to other more serious problems such as unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

Christians struggle with lust just as much as anyone else. Being Chaste is very difficult because it tests our will. As humans, we fail constantly because resisting our urges is like resisting our desire to eat or drink. Christian Chastity means fleeing from temptation and being mindful of the way we speak, think, dress, and the places we go.

Buddhist Chastity

“We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” -Buddha

Buddhism prescribes Chastity through the Noble Eightfold Path. This path is a treatment for life through training, designed to release one from ignorance, impulse, and the desire for sense pleasures. One of the points on this path is that of Right Action.

According to the concept of Right Action, practitioners should train themselves to be morally right in their activities. To achieve this, one must follow the five precepts: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not become intoxicated, and do not be unchaste.

For monks and people who are not married, Chastity is continence. For the married it means restraint in proportion with one’s progress along the Path. If change is needed, the person should reflect on their actions with an eye on what prompted the action in the first place. Change should then proceed in the direction of selflessness and charity.

If a person is unchaste, they are still trapped by tanha, the desire for private fulfillment. This kind of desire seeks fulfillment in the ego and senses, which are temporary and hollow. Tanha is the cause of life’s dislocation, but if a person follows the Path, which includes being Chaste, they can escape the selfish craving which keeps them from achieving true happiness.

By practicing Chastity, one is moving closer to escaping the self-cage. When we escape the desire for sexual satisfaction, we are no longer shaped by that craving and it’s narrow limits of self-interest. When we are free of that craving, our mind becomes more pure, and that purity leads to joy.

Muslim Chastity

“For men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in God’s praise, for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward.” – The Qu’ran 33:35

Muslims take special care to abstain from what is forbidden. They do this in part by promoting virtuous behavior, and by distancing themselves from animalistic desires. The Qu’ran is very specific that sexual indecency is sin. Chastity is necessary for preventing human behavior from sinking into despicable desires.

In today’s largely secular society, it seems that people have trouble seeing the significance of Islam’s norms and values surrounding Chastity and modesty. To Islam, the world is predominantly licentious, and we are in danger if we are not diligent in guarding our Chastity.

Unchaste behavior can have disastrous, even devastating consequences. Islam’s teachings about unchaste behavior seek to educate and reform before that behavior leads to disaster.

This does not mean someone will experience a catastrophe that ruins their life as a result of unchaste behavior. Yet this is no excuse to be unchaste. Men and women should practice chastity because Allah commands it, and if they love God they will want to obey His commands. As a person would want to be clean, have nice clothes, and a great smile when they meet their beloved, so should that person enhance their spiritual attraction in order to appropriately approach God. One way to do this is by nurturing Chaste behavior.

Such things are not easy, nor will change happen overnight, but Allah assures his people, “Those who strive in Our path- We will surely guide them in Our ways.” (Qu’ran 29:70).

Connecting the Definitions of Chastity

Christianity and Islam closely relate to one another in their teachings on Chastity, while Buddhism differs slightly. All agree that chastity is vital to working towards a virtuous soul, and ultimately salvation.

From these three religions, we learn the following about Chastity: Sexual misconduct is a sin against the body and God. If we try to resist or fight it by ourselves, we will fail. We need to flee from it towards Christ, who is our strength and hope (Christianity). Chastity is necessary for escaping the selfish desires of the flesh, which blind us from truth and cause us to suffer. If we can escape this cycle, our minds become purified, which leads to happiness (Buddhism). Chastity is abstaining from improper sexual action, which is forbidden, along with other animalistic desires. Key to this is focusing our minds on God, and keeping ourselves busy with healthy and constructive acts, so there is less room for unchaste behavior (Islam).

How Can I Practice Chastity?

In order to practice Chastity, one must focus on improving self-control. This is a test of will and is never easy for anyone. In order to change, one must change the way they think about themselves and about other people. This is accomplished in part by changing our behavior; you cannot just flip a switch and be more chaste. It takes time.

Get in touch with your faith. The most important factor behind change is how much you want that change. If you’re not in it all the way, it will be much harder to accomplish the goal. This is where faith and spirituality play a critical role. If you believe in God, spend time in prayer and meditate upon the Holy texts. Whatever you believe, lean on that and others who share your belief. Let their strength be yours.

Practice Modesty. True modesty extends to our speech, our actions, our thoughts, and the way we dress. Therefore, dress appropriately, be aware of your thoughts as you think them, watch your body language, and be attentive to what you say. Often times in social situations we try to act “cool” and participate in jokes or conversations that are sexual or inappropriate. Resist the urge to be like everyone else, and stand firm to what you say. Modesty sends a message, and others are more likely to be inspired rather than offended by what you say.

Avoid sexual temptation. This involves staying away from situations where you might be enticed into the behavior you’re trying to avoid. If you’re dating, refrain from situations like the back of a car, a bed, or being alone together. These settings set us up for failure; a person trying to lose weight shouldn’t go to the candy store. Just stay away.

Know how to resist sexual pressure. Sometimes at work, or home, or out in the world, we find ourselves in situations where the atmosphere becomes sexually charged. Don’t allow yourself to be caught up, be ready with comebacks to defend yourself. This won’t always be necessary, but it’s important to keep guard.

By practicing, avoiding, and resisting, you will gradually change your thought process, and by doing so will become more Chaste. Temptation is not a force you can defeat by direct combat, just like you cannot slay a tornado by charging right towards it. Since temptation can only exist in the mind and hearts of people, we can defeat it by starving it. In its absence Chastity will grow.

“They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires and break away from the ego-cage of ‘I’, ‘me’, and ‘mine’ to be united with the Lord. This is the supreme state.”-Bhagavad Gita

Humility, or being humble, is being respectful, submissive, and modest. It is the opposite of pride and arrogance and is considered a virtue by most major religions and philosophical traditions. We are most often humiliated when we lack humility. The challenge is that our nature compels us to want to feel powerful and important. Admitting that we are neither can feel like going against our will to survive.

A person who practices humility becomes teachable and more easily acquires wisdom. They become a better listener and a more valuable friend. He or she is also better able to recognize personal traits or faults, which leads to a willingness to improve.

It’s obvious why humility is an important aspect of most world religions. It opens our hearts and mind to the will of God.

Humility in Hinduism

“The seeker after truth should be humbler than the dust. The world crushes the dust under its feet, but the seeker after truth should so humble himself that even the dust could crush him.” -Mahatma Ghandi

Central to Hindu belief is the idea that one must let go of the ego in order to be united with the Atman (the true self) and Brahman (God). Selfish desire or the want for fame or power are worldly yearnings that distract us from the ultimate goal.

Hinduism does not denounce the fact that power, position, and possession are ambitions that run deep. Worldly success is necessary for raising a household and taking care of civic duty responsibly. It is not wrong to be successful but ultimately wealth, fame, and power are exclusive. If I own something, it is not yours.

Those who are successful are not automatically lacking humility, but when people make money or social status their chief ambition and pride, things become problematic. As one acquires, he also acquires the want for more. The drive for more and more becomes insatiable. As Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita:

When you keep thinking about sense objects, attachment comes. Attachment breeds desire, the lust of possession that burns to anger. Anger clouds the judgement; you can no longer learn from past mistakes. Lost is the power to choose between what is wise and what is unwise, and your life is utter waste.

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Krishna’s words highlight the struggle with our “self,” as well as the broader message of the Gita. Eknath Easwaran, a spiritual teacher who was mentored by Mohandas Ghandi, wrote that the Gita’s message concerns “the war within, the struggle for self mastery that every human being must wage if he or she is to emerge from life victorious.”

Humility according to Hinduism is not crawling around in the mud cursing oneself, but rather a struggle for shedding the ego cage, and recognizing and feeling oneness with the rest of the world, completely free from bias or any idea of inferiority or superiority.

Humility in Islam

“The true servants of God the Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant address them, reply with (words of) peace.” – the Holy Qu’ran 25:63

Humility is taken very seriously in Islam. The word “Islam” can be translated as “submission to God.” When Muslims are praying, they typically bow on the ground in a position that acknowledges human lowliness compared to God.

Humility is identical to submission to Allah. The seventh chapter in the Qu’ran reads, “Call on your Lord with humility and in private, for Allah loves not those who transgress beyond bounds.” (7:55) God is immaterial, all-knowing, and all-powerful. Therefore the only way to approach him is in complete humility because without him humans have nothing and are nothing.

Ibn Al-Qayyim, a Sunni Islamic jurist and theologian from the 13th century summarized the Islamic idea of humility in these words:

There are two realities which we must fully grasp in order to be truly characterized with the noblest characteristic of humility. First and foremost is to come to truly know Allah’s perfection, His abundant favors upon us and how we are fully dependent upon Him. Secondly, we have to come to know ourselves, where we come from and our numerous weaknesses and shortcomings.

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Humility requires that we know God and be thankful for the fact that everything comes from Him through His grace and mercy. To do this, we should place heavy emphasis on praising and thanking Him constantly. We must also view ourselves as creatures who are comparatively weak and easily destroyed. In other words, humility is identical to recognizing how powerful and omnipotent God is as well as accepting our own weakness.

Humility in Catholicism

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves” -Phillipians 2:3

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, a French Abbot born in the 10th century, defined humility as, “A virtue by which a man knowing himself as he truly is, abases himself. Jesus Christ is the ultimate definition of Humility.” Therefore, in order to become humble, we must look to the one who is the perfect example.

The Gospel of John focuses on Jesus’s humility. When Jesus came to Jerusalem, the people “took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord– the King of Israel!” (John 12:13) Even though Jesus was the King of Israel, his kingdom was in Heaven, not on Earth. He came as a humble King not on horse or chariot, but on a donkey.

Even though Jesus was the son of God, he did not exalt himself or consider himself equal with God. Instead, he claimed that he could do nothing by himself, that whatever power or authority he had was God’s (John 5:19). He also would not accept glory from men (5:41); his teachings were not his, but Gods (7:16); and he was not following his will, but the will of God (6:38).

Since Christ is our example, we should mimic what he does. Whatever glory we think we have belongs to God. When we teach others about the Bible, the teachings are not ours, but God’s, whose wisdom is greater than our own. Our triumphs and victories come from God.

Humility is a crucial aspect of salvation. When we come to Christ, we come as sinners who need salvation and are entirely unable to save ourselves. Therefore, we must have a humble spirit, acknowledging his grace and mercy and the fact that he exchanges our worthlessness for His infinite worth.

Connecting The Definitions Of Humility

Each religion provides valuable wisdom into the virtue of humility. Taken together, a truly humble person would be one who has cast away the inflated ego that was a barrier to truth and God (Hinduism); one who submits to the will of God, because He is the supreme authority (Islam); and one who recognizes that all things come from God and to him all credit and glory are due (Catholicism).

While each of these religions approaches humility in slightly different ways, one does not need to be Hindu to read and learn about humility from the Hindu perspective. The same goes for a Muslim or a Christian. We should seek knowledge, listen, absorb wisdom, and find ways to apply that wisdom in a way that fits with our beliefs

Catholics, Hindus, Muslims, and peoples of any religion may have different definitions of God, but why should this prevent them from learning about each other? Acknowledging that each religion has something good and wise to offer would be an act of humility.

Being Humble

Humility is difficult to acquire because we instinctively avoid things that humble us. Like many things, this difficulty can be overcome one step at a time. Here are a few things you can do everyday to practice being humble:

Admit when you’re wrong. No one likes to accept their own mistakes, but doing so builds character and sets a good example for others. Practice admitting to the little mistakes with minor or no consequences. This prepares one for the big mess-ups, which will inevitably happen.

Avoid taking credit. When we accomplish things, we naturally want to share the news with others. This desire for recognition and praise is not wrong, but too much of it inflates the ego. Instead, keep some achievements hidden from others. It will do you good, and any who discover you didn’t step in and take credit will have more respect for you.

Learn from those around you. There will always be people who have advanced beyond us in certain ways. Don’t envy or resent them, learn from them.

Help someone. The best way to become humble is by being humbled. By serving or helping someone, we send the message that their needs are more important than our own.

There are many more ways to practice humility. To make lasting change, gradually fold humble actions into your everyday life. Don’t try to do too much at once because you will only burn yourself out. Too much humility can be a bad thing. The best way to make permanent change is to make proper humility a habit.