“Money is not the only commodity to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love or simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give.”

Our actions have a tongue of their own; they have an eloquence of their own, even when the tongue is silent.  For deeds prove the lover more than words.  - St. Cyril of Jerusalem: (313 – 386 AD: He is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. In 1883, Cyril was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII).

Gospel Text: (LK 14:12-14)

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine
at the home of one of the leading Pharisees.
He said to the host who invited him,
"When you hold a lunch or a dinner,
do not invite your friends or your brothers or sisters
or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors,
in case they may invite you back and you have repayment.
Rather, when you hold a banquet,
invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind;
blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you.
For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

In today’s Gospel, Jesus talks about how to create a guest list and He teaches us that giving has a certain quality to it.  The way we give and the spirit in which we give is what is important.  True giving must have “no strings” attached…..no expectations of getting anything in return.