32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, B
MY GOD IS A GIVING
GOD
Jesus observes our giving! Isn’t
that surprising? In the gospel, Jesus situated himself in a corner of the
temple to take notice of people while they part with their riches for the work
that pertains to God’s glory on earth, for the mission of the Kingdom.
But Jesus does not look at “how
much” people give. Jesus discerns “the way” people give. Because of this, he
saw how many rich people give out of a sense of obligation only, or in order to
be noticed, or in order to appease their conscience, or in order to feel good
about themselves.
He saw, and admired, the giving
of a poor widow who had very little to share. Jesus saw how this widow “gave everything” she had, because
she gave from the heart. She gave
not out of obligation but out of conviction that everything she possessed was a
gift received. She gave discreetly so as not to be seen. She gave even when it
hurt because her donation was to be her food, her gas, her water, her rent. But
she was peaceful and happy!
What is it that make people give
like the widow? When people know God as the giving God, giving immediately and
giving abundantly, then people fall in love with God. It is then that giving
becomes a pleasure to respond joyfully to the generosity of God.
Today let us examine our giving –
to the church, to the poor, to good causes, to the needs of the community. Do we experience God as the giving God?
Do we recognize the many ways we are blessed? Do we believe that when we share
we receive so much more?
