Deuteronomy legislates a posture: if anyone is poor among you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted; rather, be openhanded and freely lend them whatever they need.

Every seventh year, debts canceled. Give generously, without a grudging heart. Today's reading keeps prying fingers open, and shows you the God whose hands have never once closed toward you.

Deuteronomy 15 dares to imagine an economy where need is met so promptly that there need be no poor among you, and it locates the obstacle precisely: not scarcity, but hardheartedness and tight fists. The seventh-year release trained Israel's grip to open on schedule, before compassion could be argued down.

Jesus is the openhanded law made flesh: power going out at the touch of an anonymous woman, a dead girl fed breakfast, twelve men sent out with nothing because supply would meet them en route. You have received from hands like that. Find the tight fist in your own life, money, time, forgiveness, and open it today, freely, the family way.