“No one has ever become poor by giving.”

“Love is not patronizing and charity isn't about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same -- with charity you give love, so don't just give money but reach out your hand instead.”  - Mother Teresa




(Gospel Text: LK 11:5-13)

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Suppose one of you has a friend
to whom he goes at midnight and says,
'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,
for a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey
and I have nothing to offer him,'
and he says in reply from within,
'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked
and my children and I are already in bed.
I cannot get up to give you anything.'
I tell you, if he does not get up to give him the loaves
because of their friendship,
he will get up to give him whatever he needs
because of his persistence.

"And I tell you, ask and you will receive;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives;
and the one who seeks, finds;
and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
What father among you would hand his son a snake
when he asks for a fish?
Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?
If you then, who are wicked,
know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit
to those who ask him?"

Have you ever been awed by someone’s generosity?

Whether it be a stranger or a close friend, we have all experienced selfless giving in one way or another. I’d also venture to say that at one moment or another, we have all selflessly given as well. I like to believe that as human beings, we yearn to give of ourselves and share our gifts and talents.

While generosity is in our nature as humans, our world is obviously not an entirely generous place. There are times we live our lives without thinking of anyone but ourselves. On a more extreme scale, there are people who choose not to give and instead take: take belongings that aren’t theirs, take from the Earth without thinking of the consequences, take the innocence of another human being, or even take another person’s life. Sometimes the selfishness of our world can outshine the selflessness that truly is there, and this can result in a complete lack of faith and hope.

And that’s why this Gospel is so beautiful -- God is all about giving without any of the taking or selfishness. As the Gospel today states, “ask and you will receive, seek and you will find.” God is more generous than we can even wrap our minds around. In times of weakness and struggle, God will never turn away from us.

When we feel weighed down by suffering and rejection, God will continue giving.