There is an irony in today’s Gospel passage. Those who had plenty gave little whilst the woman who had little gave plenty. How is this possible? You can give everything you have with the thought, ‘What else have I got to lose?’ or you can give with the thought, ‘To my Lord with all my heart, my mind, my soul, and my strength.’ Yes, today’s Gospel flows from the previous week’s Gospel. The giving of oneself totally to the Lord can only happen with total love for the Lord. Love must be expressed for love to grow.
In today’s context, it is easy for some people to give money and to give it generously. However the real commodity that we hold on to very tightly is time. Can we give our time to being with the Lord and doing his work? When a project is at hand, people mostly tend to give more of their money than of their time. Time for service is often left to others. Giving of all that one possesses goes beyond material possessions.
Can you give everything to the Lord and not count the cost?
The giving of oneself must go beyond a cultural and societal show to an expression of religious and spiritual growth. Mere routine habitual giving must give way to a responsible giving of oneself to the Lord. Following someone’s example might be a start for one’s giving but it must give way to your unique way of giving your total self to the Lord. When there is a total commitment to the Lord, there will be no counting of the cost of giving and about what is given.
Love and Adventure,
Fr. Terence Pereira
Questions for Reflection
Do you look for ways to give to the Lord or do you wait to be invited to give?
Does your giving of yourself or the things that you have enable you to grow more in love with the Lord you believe in?
What do you find hardest to give to the Lord?
