Love and Charity

Love is never costly.

1 [a]Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. 3 Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus[b] and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. 4 Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 5 “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages[c] and given to the poor?” 6 He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. 7 So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.[d] 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”9 [The] large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, 11 because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.-John12:1-11

Here, Mary showed the highest form of love - anointing the feet of Jesus and drying them with her hair. This humble act can truly touch any person. However, if Jesus and so many others are moved with this gesture, there is one who thought that such an act is a waste. Yes, we all have that tendency as well. I remember the "Ghost" movie. In the middle of the story, Oda came in possession of $4 million through the guidance of Sam, the ghost. Of course, she was very happy and planned the many things she would do with the money. However, since the money belonged to Sam, he told her to give it all to the nuns on the street. Perhaps Oda felt that giving $4 million to charity is a waste because she herself is in need of money too.

Love can be painful. Charity can be painful. Giving can be impractical. The little that we give is but nothing compared to the love, sacrifice and pain Jesus endured to save us all. Jesus is inviting us to love God and our neighbor more and more.

Image courtesy: The Passion of the Christ

Love is the True Measure

Jesus shares our joy when we give.

Jesus[a] looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins.[b] And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”-Luke21:1-4

I have encountered many poor people in my life. If I ask them about their daily survival, they would say that what money they have, they save it for their needs. Their needs involve food, clothing, water, needs of the children in school and so forth. Now that's a responsible poor! However, there are those who are in deep poverty but still spend whatever they have to gamble or buy alcoholic drinks, drugs and cigarettes. The result, they become poorer and more hungry still.

I consider the widow a responsible poor. Yes, she saved what little she has for a higher need. But this higher need happens to be giving to the temple treasury. Fascinating isn't it? A widow and poor at that. It is expected of her to use what little she has for her survival - including food, clothing, oil and other household needs. But she believes that the crucible and core of her survival is God, through God and in God alone.

Normally, any person would think of his/her survival first and foremost. But the poor widow anchored her survival to God. Simply fascinating! Our life depends on survival and ensuring that every thing and every need is there within reach. We tend to forget that there is a God who ensures our survival and needs to live, except the poor widow.

Is God saying, then, that we should imitate the poor widow? Yes and No. If we can happily and readily give all that we have to do the Church and not regret it afterwards, then our sacrifice is one that will truly touch the heart of God and the hearts of men and women. But, if we will only regret, cry and be angry if we give everything to the Church, then, much better not to do so. God appreciates a generous giver. But the generous giver must be happy in what s/he is giving to others.

It is not the amount that matters to God. Rather, it is the amount of love that we give that truly matters. As what St. Paul said to his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 13 verse 3, "... If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing." Love is the true measure of charity.

Image by: Zeferino da Costa (The Widow's Mite), Hunger Games (Katniss Everdeen), artist