The true meaning of generosity
«When you give a feast, invite instead the poor… Fortunate are you then, because they can’t repay you; you will be repaid at the Resurrection of the upright»
Today, the Lord teaches us the true meaning of Christian generosity: to learn how to devote ourselves to others. «When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, or your brothers and relatives and wealthy neighbors. For surely they will also invite you in return and you will be repaid» (Lk 14:12).
Christians move about in this world as any other person; but the fundamental purpose to deal with our neighbor cannot be either humans rewards or the vainglory; over everything else, we have to seek the Glory of God pretending no other recompense than Heaven. «When you give a feast, invite instead the poor, the crippled, the lame and the blind. Fortunate are you then, because they can’t repay you; you will be repaid at the Resurrection of the upright» (Lk 42:13-14).
The Lord invites all of us to give ourselves unconditionally to all men, motivated only by our love to God and to our brothers in the Lord. «And if you lend to them of whom you hope to receive, what thank have you? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again» (Lk 6:34).
Things are like that because the Lord helps us to understand that, if we give ourselves unselfishly, without expecting anything in return, God will repay us with a greater reward and will confirm us as his favorite children. This is why Jesus tells us: «But love you your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and you shall be the children of the Highest» (Lk 6:35).
Let us beg from the Mother of God enough generosity so that we can elude any temptation of selfishness, as his Son did. «Selfish! You…always looking out for yourself. You seem unable to feel the brotherhood of Christ. In others you don’t see brothers; you see stepping-stones. (…)» (St. Josemaria Escriva).
when we pray, we say…
…”Lord, I get discouraged because I confess the same sins over and over again. I grew weary of praying for my dreams over and over again that seemed not to be answered.
At times, i feel embarrassed because my sins are repeated a million times over. I tremble in shame, Lord. I am disgusted with myself for I have slackened from the disciplines of life.
I may be discouraged Lord, but You will never be discouraged
with me. I may be a disappoinntment to others but You are never disappointed of me because You see much hopes and dreams in me, a wicked sinner.
Lord, I will not give up. I will not give up on trying. I will try to be good if not better. I will try to reform, but I give no assurance that I will not fall again or ever.
But Lord, when I fall, bring me back to You. When I forget, remind me of your endless love. When I am lost, show me the way.
Lord, I wil not give up because I know You will never give up on me. Lord, do not grow tired of forgiving me. Lord do not grow tired of me. Lord, do not give up on me.”…amen.
