December 2011

Prayer of the Humble

The one who serves God wholeheartedly will be heard; his petition will reach the clouds. The prayer of the humble person pierces the clouds, and he is not consoled until he has been heard. His prayer will not cease until the Most High has looked down, until justice has been done in the favor of […]

Generous Giving

The sacrifice of the just man pleases God and will not be forgotten. Honor the Lord with a generous heart and do not be stingy with the first fruits of your harvest.
Offer your gifts with a smiling face and when you pay your tithes do it gladly.
Give to the Most High as He has given […]

Offering Pleasing to God

Keeping the Law is worth many offerings. Being faithful to the commandments is like peace offering.
Returning kindness is an offering of fine flour; giving alms is a sacrifice of praise.
Renouncing sin pleases the Lord, and shunning injustice is a sacrifice of atonement.
Do not appear before the Lord with empty hands. The commandment requires that you […]

Cleansing

If a man is cleansed after touching a corpse and then touches it again, what good was there in his cleansing?
If anyone fast for his sins and then commits the same sins again, who will hear his prayer? What value is there in his fasting?
What’s the use of repentance when you commit the same sins […]

Life to the Poor

Bread is life to the poor; he who takes it from them is a murderer. He who deprives others of a livelihood kills them, and whoever withdraws the salary of a worker is guilty of blood.
If one builds and the other destroys, what do they gain besides trouble? If one prays and the other curses, […]

Offerings Not Pleasing to God

An offering to God from stolen goods is a stained offering, the sacrifices of the wicked do not please God.
The Most High takes no pleasure in the offering of the godless. It is not the number of victims that obtains pardon for sin.
Offerings to God what belongs to the poor is like slaughtering a son […]