Dear Friends,
When Jesus came here on earth, he imparted to us so many valuable things.
But there is one value that is of great importance and that is giving. An
open hand signifies an open heart. The gospel strongly teaches us to give
and it will be given unto you—good measure, pressed down, shaken together,
overflowing, will be poured into your lap (Luke 6:38)
God gives. He gives us everything we have. He gives us the world—the sun,
rain, sea, wind, trees, food, drink, clothing, shelter—everything.
Sacrifice is the universal proof of real love. Our Lord sacrificed
Himself, giving up everything—His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity just to win
back our eternal life. Contrary to the values of the world that takes,
possesses, hoards, the Lord teaches us a counter-value—to deny one’s self
and to take up one’s cross.
It is customary to say that the real value of the gospel is love. That is
true, but the guarantee that the person is truly in love is when the person
gives, not only his things but also his very self. St. Ignatius Loyola
confirms this when he said that authentic love is shown in deeds, not in
words.
When we give, we suffer. We experience pain. But pain has a special place
in the plans of God. A mother gives life—in pain. But after the birth of the
child, her painful ordeal is forgotten; there is only exquisite joy. All
God’s gift comes wrapped in pain. His best gifts are usually the one, which
we receive in tears in our eyes. When we try to live the values of Lord, it
initially accompanies the cross, but soon it turns into the joy of
resurrection. Our Lord said, "I have come that you have life and have it
more abundantly. I have come that my joy might be in you, and that your joy
might be complete." (John 15:11) On the other hand if we embrace the values
of the world, then we will experience unparallel sadness that will
ultimately lead to despair.
"God is besides you. He is present in the heart of
every individual. We are the temple of Holy Spirit. Therefore we are
exhorted by our Lord to love our neighbor, even those we consider our
enemies. But if you are unable and still you say you love, then that is a
lie. Because you cannot love God, whom you do not see, if you cannot love
your neighbor, whom you do see" (Fr. Ramon Villena).
Bensilal Chacko
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