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?