Monday 24^th November – Memorial of Andrew Dung-Lac & Companions, Martyrs

Reflection: Luke 21: 1-4

CHEERFUL GIVING

Cheerful giving denotes the act of giving with joy despite the sacrifice required of the giver. We can only give cheerfully when we trust that God is able to supply our needs. In today’s Gospel reading, the poor widow put two copper coins into the treasury and what was Jesus reaction? Jesus said she had put in more than the rich who gave out of the abundance they had because she had given all she had – 100%.

The more sacrifice our act of giving requires of us, the more blessings we obtain from God. The only prerequisite for “giving” is “having” and not “having excess”. We need not wait till we have all the money in the world before we cultivate the habit of giving cheerfully. How much we give may not matter as much as our attitude towards giving. For our giving to yield blessings, we are to give cheerfully and generously, trusting that God is able to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Philippians 4:19).

How many times have you and I failed to give cheerfully and generously out of the fear that we will not have enough for tomorrow? Let us ask God for mercy for our failure to trust Him at those moments and commit ourselves to cheerful giving trusting that we shall lack nothing good.

PRAYER: Holy Father, please take away all fears from me. Help me to be willing always to share the beautiful gifts I receive from you each day. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 449 – What significance do the poor have for Christians?

Love for the poor must be in every age the distinguishing mark of Christians. The poor deserve not just a few alms; they have a claim to justice. For Christians there is a special obligation to share their goods. Our example in love for the poor is Christ.

HIDE A TREASURE: “God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7 RSV-CE

Readings for Today: Revelation 14:1-5; Psalm 24:1-6; Luke 21:1-4