It is 21st June 2017. We celebrate the memorial of St Aloysius Gonzaga, a Religious. The readings are from 2 Cor. 9:6-11; and the Gospel from Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18. There must be no noise and pompous in our giving and sharing. Our giving must be only noticed by the Giver of all our gifts. We must not be forced by any institution or a church to be generous. Our generosity is to blossom out of our love and faith in the one who created us and redeemed us. In the first reading, St. Paul wishes that we become cheerful in givers. We do not become great by giving rather we are making someone to feel great, worthy and to have a thought that God still cares and lives. “God who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your sowing.” (2 Cor.9:10). Our blessing depends in the way we give and share. If we feel we are not blessed, we have not given enough. A genuine giving is contagious and evokes the thoughts of giving in others some point. Let us make up our minds today that we are privileged to give no matter how little we have. Let us sow the seeds of generosity with the fertilizer of cheerfulness and willingness. Our material, and financial offering is only a beginning. We too need to give our time, energy, skills and our loving, caring and healing presence to the other. It is not just how many percentages we need to give to God, the church and to the poor rather it is the quality of love that is put within our giving matters. Let us truly be passionate in giving. Human hearts open easily with compassion and mercy. We do not need to give in order to reduce our sins and guilt. Our giving has only one motive that is to make someone feel the presence and the providence of God. The responsorial Psalm praises, “Blessed the person who fears the Lord.” (Ps.111:1). Jesus invites us to be cautious and prudent in displaying our good works. Our good works are not for our personal advertisements and marketing. Our personal prayers and devotions are not for getting benefits only but to glorify God and make our lives exposed to God. Whenever we have been praised and applauded by people for having been generous, prayerful, and doing good, we got we have sought for and there is nothing more to come from God. Our generosity, prayer life and pious devotions need to be done in a manner so secretly, God alone notices them and rewards us accordingly. Let us make every effort to stop looking for human appraisal and appreciation for being good, compassionate and generous. May God bless you and have a good day.