Blog Post 11/07/2021 - Why Give?

 

James Tissot. The Widow's Mite. between 1886 and 1894

Homily Cycle B 11/07/2021 – Why Give? - Readings for the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110721.cfm

Shamus O’Reilly lived alone in the Irish countryside, his pet dog was his companion.  When the dog died, Shamus went to the Fr. Patrick, the parish priest and asked,
"Father, my dog has died, would you say a Mass for him?"

Father Patrick replied, "Shamus we can’t have services for an animal in the church.

Why don’t check with the  Baptists down the road, they might be willing do something for your dog."  “Thank you, Father, in that case do you think a $15,000 is a large enough donation for them?"  Father Patrick exclaimed, “Shamus why didn't you tell me your dog was Catholic?"

This story from Chicken Soup for the Soul, is profound “… a little girl … was dying (from) a very rare disease.  Her only hope for survival was to get a blood transfusion from her five-year-old brother ….  The doctor explained to the little boy what a transfusion was & asked if he would be willing to give blood to his sister. 

He hesitated for a moment then said, ‘yes if it will save Lisa.’  As the transfusion progressed … (the) color returned to Lisa’s cheeks.  Then the little boy’s smile faded & with a very serious look on his face and a trembling voice he asked the doctor ‘Will I start to die now?’  The little boy had misunderstood, (but he was willing to help his sister).  Like the widows in today’s Scriptures, he was willing to give all. 

For Elijah the prophet, the widow was willing to share all she had; God blessed her and her son.  In the letter to the Hebrews, we were told that Christ took away the sins of the many and He will appear a second time “… to bring salvation ….”  Jesus warns about the scribes who appear to be religious but don’t help the widows and the poor – the people who need assistance.  Jesus extolls the poor widow who put two small coins into the treasury, she put all she had to honor God and help others. 

Today’s readings should spur us to review what God has given us and how we share our resources.  When we share, do we do it with joy, with happiness, and with humility.

Does the Gospel inspire us to TRUST God and TRUST in God’s GOODNESS.

Do our readings  remind us to not seek honor for honor’s sake?

What motivates us  to help others?

Do we calculate the cost of helping?

One of the most difficult lessons to teach young children is to share, because SHARING requires sacrifice, it is difficult for children and for adults, but it is woven into Christian life.

Maybe this story can help illuminate Christian sharing, when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans 16 years ago, a parish in Maryland wanted to do something.  The Maryland pastor heard an interview with the pastor of the parish in Rayne, Louisiana, who explained how his parish was working to provide housing to those driving up from New Orleans to flee the storm. The priest in Maryland contacted the pastor to ask what he needed, and he explained that the New Orleans folks who had come to his parish seeking help had to evacuate their homes bringing little or nothing with them.  They needed simple things like a toothbrush or a towel or a change of underwear.

 

So, the Maryland parish decided to purchase Walmart gift cards so people could buy what they needed.  Before they were done, the Maryland community had purchased almost $20,000 in Walmart gift cards — all in $25 and $50 amounts.  The Louisiana pastor said he was the most popular man in Louisiana for a time — and the parishioners in Maryland were thrilled to be able to do something practical and immediate, that their help went directly to people in need. [

 

“The “widow’s mite” can take many forms: from someone’s last $10 given to a hungry beggar to a $25 Walmart gift card for a storm refugee.  In the Gospel scheme of things, it’s not the dollar value of the gift that matters but the attitude of the giver; …  it’s not the elegance of the gift but the joy experienced in being able to do good for someone in need ….

In exalting the gift of the poor widow, Jesus wants us to realize that, in the economy of God, numbers are not the true value of giving: it’s what we give from our want, not from our extra, that reflects what we truly value, what good we actually want to accomplish, what we really want our lives and world to be.   Even a toothbrush and a clean pair of socks can be the perfect offering of thanks to the God of all blessings.  [Connections, 11/07/2021 - From “Parish Diary: Hurricane Katrina brought out the best in us” by Rev. Peter Daly, National Catholic Reporter, September 7, 2021.]

 

For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on your attitude about giving on your life as a follower of Jesus Christ.

 

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us.

St. Joseph, pray for us.

St. Andre Bessette, intercede for us. 

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us.

“Tune my spirit to the music of heaven.”  [St. Brendan the Navigator]

 

May God Be Praised and your day be Blessed.