GENEROUS WITH

GOD’S GENEROSITY

“Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn away from the one who borrows from you.” – Matthew 5:42

God’s prolific giving always amazes me. I’ve been at the receiving end of His generosity, shown through people who have given to me of their time, talent and resources.

       One of the most memorable generous deeds I received was from my friend Irma. When she heard about our family’s financial woes, she gave me a check, the amount of which enabled me to pay for an outstanding debt. She told me that she had sensed from the Lord that she should give me that specific amount and immediately did as she was told, out of obedience to Him and her desire to help me.

       The generosity shown to me by both God and man is my motivation to be generous to others, too. While I am a woman of simple means, still I trust that the moment someone asks and I decide to give, God blesses my giving. I trust Him to provide for my needs as I strive to also help those in need. I trust that I can be generous with His generosity.

       After all, everything that I have is from our generous Father. He began the unending cycle of giving and I just do my best to “pay it forward.” Dina Pecaña (dpecana@yahoo.com)

Reflection: “It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; and to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.” (Kahlil Gibran)

Lord, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve You as I should. To give and not to count the cost… knowing that I do Your most holy will.

St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr, pray for us.

A holy life is the goal for all Christians. What does it mean to be holy? It means to live in imitation of Jesus. This is why it is so important to have a strong and committed prayer life, reading the Scriptures as often as we can. This is how we get to know who Jesus is and what it means to follow Him. Without it, left to our own devices, we will struggle to understand how to live according to His example.

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the whole Israelite community and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. 17 “You shall not bear hatred for your brother and sister in your heart. Though you may have to reprove your fellow citizen, do not incur sin because of him. 18 Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against any of your people. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name. 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. (R) 3 He pardons all your iniquities, he heals all your ills. 4 He redeems your life from destruction, he crowns you with kindness and compassion. (R) 8 Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. 10 Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R) 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far has he put our transgressions from us. 13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. (R)

That we are temples of the Holy Spirit is an incredible reality that we should reflect upon often. I am sure our parents have told us at one time or another to respect the fact that we are in a church and to act accordingly. Think about it — Christ dwells in us and we are His temple. This truth, if nothing else, ought to inspire us to live holy lives out of respect to Him, who lives within us and guides us.

16 Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for the temple of God, which you are, is holy. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool so as to become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God, for it is written: “He catches the wise in their own ruses,” 20 and again: “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.” 21 So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, 22 Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, 23 and you to Christ, and Christ to God.

The Gospel is a challenge to live in its fullest expression. If you are going to embrace something, then you may as well do it properly and embrace its fullness and not just bits and pieces as they are convenient. We should not pick and choose what we like about God’s call for us but embrace it in its entirety. The degree to which we can embrace this is the degree to which we will become saints.

Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

38 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. 40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. 41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? 48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Timothy1-3

BLESSING

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(HALF) BROTHER AND THE RAGING NANAY

Nanay was a tough woman. A true-blooded disciplinarian. Strict and straightforward. Hers was the only voice we would obey in the house.  I have a half-brother, who is as old as I am and almost looks like me but looks exactly like Tatay. Nanay knew about him but would rather not talk about the issue. My siblings and I would go out with him in secret, lest we catch her ire. He and his mother were Nanay’s enemies. Until she attended the Catholic Life in the Spirit Seminar and joined a local Charismatic community. She mellowed down.

       Then one day, my half-brother decided to pay me a visit in my parish. I was out. Nanay was there. Tatay was there. Tatay introduced them to each other. My half-brother told them about his forthcoming wedding.

       Consequently, Nanay required all my siblings to attend the wedding of our brother (no longer half-brother). She also did. Face to face with the other woman, she initiated an exchange of pleasantries. Later on, at the baptism of my brother’s son, Nanay was the doting mother who entertained the guests and supervised the food. She had learned to love her enemies. When Nanay died, the first floral arrangement came from this brother of mine with the words, “Alaala ng Anak, Manugang at mga Apo.”

       I credit Nanay’s change of heart to the new life in the Spirit she received. But more than this, she discovered the liberating effect of forgiveness. While it is easier and fulfilling to get even, there is untold joy in being able to “love your enemies and pray for your persecutors.” The challenge is to love those for whom we harbor ill feelings and who are most difficult to love, accept and forgive. Doing so makes us true children of the Father.

       A friend once asked me why she always seems to cross paths with a person she hates. The more that she wishes to avoid her, the more she would accidentally meet her. I told her it’s God who makes them meet — for them to make time for forgiveness and for old wounds to be healed. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS

REFLECTION QUESTION: Have you experienced the liberating effect of forgiving another person unconditionally?

Lord Jesus, touch my heart and soften it so that I may learn to forgive.