The Spirit Of Generosity

Daniel 1:1-6,8-20
Luke 21:1-4

Today, we live in a world that has conditioned many into the gross accumulating of wealthy and maternal possessions, The urge and appetite to earn more seems to be running in our blood veins like Oliver Twist. This has resulted into having more and more properties and get a higher rate of return in investments, whereas the needs of the poor are overlooked and not considered ramong the wealthy nations’ interests and priorities.

Before speaking about the poor widow in today’s Gospel, for several times, Jesus had criticised the motivation behind the action of the scribes. He accused them of making public shows when praying in order to win people’s respect and admiration. “We would never behave like that, we might say that but can we be so sure? Hmm! I suspect that most of us if we were to come into serious money gain, would want to show it off.

This materialistic climate strays us away from the spirit of charity and generosity which Our Lord commends in the poor widow. “I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury.” The more interested we are in becoming more and more wealthy, the more likely our urge increases we are to become like the rich whom Our Lord criticizes: “They have all put in money they had over.” By contrast, although in terms of counting the collection, the “widow’s mite” would hardly be noticed, in Our Lord’s eyes, “this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed.”

In Our Lord’s eyes, the value of this gift to God’s Church depends on how poor or rich the donor is. Look at this value with Our Lord beside you and ask yourself whether it truly reflects how important He and His Church are to you.? The widow’s gift sprang from a generous heart. “From the little she had, she has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.”
This is a way that see others’ needs before our own. A way that does not rely on material gain or public acknowledgment. A way that leads us closer and closer to His Generous and Sacred Heart of Jesus wounded for our salvation. May our participation in Our Lord’s sacrifice in this Mass help us to make an act of will to live more generously for Him. Amen.

Fr Joseph Osho