May the Lord give you peace in the Holy Spirit. It is on 21st June 2023.
Are we giving cheerfully or tearfully?
We celebrate the memorial of St Aloysius Gonzaga, a Religious. We reflect on 2 Cor. 9:6-11 and Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18.
There must be no noise and pompousness 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 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 givers. We do not become great by giving rather we are making someone 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 on the way we give and share. If we feel we are not blessed, we have not given enough. Genuine giving is contagious and evokes the thoughts of giving in others at 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 the 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 about giving.
Human hearts open easily with compassion and mercy. We do not need to give to reduce our sins and guilt. Our giving has only one motive which 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 what we have sought 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.