Give and You will Receive(Tuesday, Week 8, Year 1, 2021)

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In life, there must always be a price to pay for higher values. That price is known as ‘sacrifice’ – giving up something of less importance in order to get something of greater importance. To RECEIVE, we must be ready to GIVE. This is one of the secrets of a successful and happy life.

  

The act of giving can be challenging enough to our human tendency, because we are more likely to be calculative and to look for what we can gain from what we give. However, giving becomes much easier when we remember that we have received ALL out of the generosity of our Good God. The question is: What do I have that I did not receive? To this end, Ecclesiasticus 35:12-13 exhorts us: “Give to the Most High as He has given to you, generously as your means can afford; for the Lord is a good rewarder, he will reward you seven times over…”.  


We may ask as Peter asked: “We have left everything and followed You, what will be our reward?" Jesus may respond as He did to Peter: “I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and land – not without persecutions – now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life (cf Mk. 10:28-30). 


From Jesus’ response, let's take note of the following: First, we can’t give more than God gives: in other words, God blesses and gives more than we can ever give back. Secondly, divine “blessedness” does not imply a life without sorrow, pains and difficulties: there must be PERSECUTIONS to face. Finally, included in the package of God’s blessings is a promise of eternal life, an ultimate gift of God. In all of these, the underlying factor is the loving generosity of our Good God. 


If we must give then, let us give out of love. Augustine says that if we give out of love, we’ll receive back everything simply by discovering what it is to really love – and that is, eternal life.


Prayer:

May we come to see what the Lord God has given to us! And may we also come to see that the purpose of our life is to give cheerfully and generously, Amen!


Have a blessed day!



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