Jesus shows us the true meaning of giving, sharing
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Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.
“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, by Father Perry.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
“She gave everything she had to live,” does anyone really give like that, ever? Anyway, why is this held up as a model of how to live in the scriptures?
I was collecting a couple of sticks, “to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.”
There are probably several ways to respond to this line, but the response of the prophet does not seem like one of them —
“But first make me a little cake and bring it to me. Afterwards you can prepare something for yourself and your son.”
Were it not for the exhortation to “not be afraid,” and “to trust” — accompanied by the promise that God will take care of her — this response of the prophet would be at best “offensive,” if not outright “hateful.”
But the woman did trust and did experience the promise. And the woman in the temple, who gave “everything she had,” showed a similar trust in God. What she gave was not a lot of money, but her whole self, all she had. This is an extraordinary lesson that we receive today. Jesus once again shows us the true meaning of giving and sharing.
The word of God does not just choose the example of someone quite poor, but rather chooses the “destitute.”
These people had nothing!
After giving all they had, there was nothing else left but to wait for death. That is destitution. But imagine their last act was one of giving. Their last choice was to let go of everything. Neither seems to do it with regret. They just simply give.
How do we give? What is our definition of generous?
Do we give begrudgingly? Do we give with strings attached? Is our giving a giving of the whole self?
Do we trust in the promise? Do we believe in God’s care for us?
Quote of the week | “The three most important virtues are: humility, humility, humility.” — St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153).
