life-giving
"They gave from their surplus wealth, but she gave from her want, all that she had to live on." —Mark 12:44
God the Father loves us so much that He gave His Son to us (Jn 3:16). Jesus gave His life for us when He died on the cross. The Holy Spirit gives us charisms, gifts of the Spirit (see 1 Cor 12:4ff). Because God is the greatest Giver, He teaches us that it is better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Because God is the greatest Giver, Jesus, Who is God, sat down opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury (Mk 12:41). Jesus makes a point to observe our giving — not only at the collection during Mass but in every aspect of our lives.
Because the Lord has given His "all" to us, He commands us to give our "all" to Him. The Lord is not as interested in how much we give as in how much we have left. He tells us to give all that we have to live on (Mk 12:44).
Many of us don't mind giving, or we may even enjoy giving something to God and others. Nevertheless, we are terrified and overwhelmed by the prospect of giving all. But God's grace is sufficient (2 Cor 12:9). The Lord will grace us to love Him so much that we would be ashamed to give Him less than everything. Paradoxically, in giving our lives totally to Him we will save our lives (see Lk 9:24; 1 Kgs 17:15). May our almsgiving be "all-giving."
Prayer: Jesus, You gave Your life for me. I give my life for You.
Promise: "Christ was offered up once to take away the sins of many; He will appear a second time not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him." —Heb 9:28
Praise: Praise You, Jesus, "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14:6), "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25).
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 6, 2006
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