Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to
the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your
harvest. Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner
residing among you. I am the LORD your God."
— Leviticus 23:22

Most people fall on hard times at some point in their lives
and asking for help from others can make a difficult situation
even harder. Sometimes, the only thing that people have left
is their dignity, and having to go to someone they know for
a handout can take that away from them, too. This is why
God prescribes that food be left behind for the poor and not
brought to them directly. This allowed the poor to come and
take what they needed, in the darkness of the night if they
preferred. This way, their needs could be filled while their
dignity remained intact.

Today, this beautiful system of giving is not practical for
most of us, but the spirit of this type of giving is something
that we can still incorporate into our lives.
Christianity/Judaism values giving anonymously or giving to
people whom you will never meet or know. This way, your
gift is exponentially greater in value as you fill someone's
stomach, without depleting their pride.

With prayers for shalom, peace,
Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein