Giving from the Heart

HOMILY: Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 12:38-44

7 November 2021

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA 

Why do you give? Do you give out of your excess? There is a famous person who gives her least favourite signature bags to friends because she knows she will hardly use them anyway. Is she truly being generous or simply making space in her closet for more expensive purchases? Do you give out of pity? When people mindlessly throw coins in the cup of a blind beggar, do they believe their spare change will remedy his hunger or are they simply trying to silence or avoid any feelings of guilt?  Would you be willing to give if the consequence would be your own inconvenience or suffering? 

I read the story of a taxi driver, known as Kuya Ariel. The pandemic has seriously affected the livelihood of taxi drivers because people aren’t keen to travel as much as before. Yet, he sacrifices what little earnings he makes by offering free rides for all medical frontliners.   Johannes, a nurse, was concerned when Ariel failed to start the taxi meter, thinking he was going to be kicked out of the cab for being a hospital worker. To his surprise Kuya Ariel pointed to his make shift sign that said “Basta frontliner, libre!”  Another nurse, Kate, was close to tears from exhaustion and hopelessness when she could barely get a ride home. By chance, she flagged down the cab of Kuya Ariel and his kind gesture, was a comfort to her, making her feel appreciated. Another passenger, Dr. Celito, was moved to tears as Kuya Ariel cheered him on before he alighted the vehicle. He said “Laban lang Doc. Hindi madali ang pinagdadaanan ninyong medical frontliners. Tandaan nyong may mga naniniwala at sumusuporta sa inyo.” 

Kung iiisipin natin di madali ang buhay ng mga taxi drivers ngayon. Dahil sa mga naging lockdown – halos walang biyahe. Kung meron man, matumal dahil takot din ang tao sa mga closed places. Pag nabawas na ang boundary at gas – kakarampot na ang naiiuuwi sa pamilya.

The generosity of Kuya Ariel parallels that of the graciousness of the widow of Zarephath in the First Reading and the widow in the gospel story. Although in dire straits, they both gave from what they had, without reservation. Kuya Ariel, was himself hard up in life, but he still gave of what he had— his time, his service, his kind words of encouragement, and the sacrifice of his profit for the day.  None of these were simply from his excess. His generosity was not motivated by a perception of inequality, where he had more and they had less. For sure the frontliners, are paid better than he is and because their expertise is in demand, doctors and nurses will not find themselves out of work.  Rather, his generosity came from a heart that is filled with compassion for one’s neighbour and empathy for those who are similarly suffering. More than anything, he wanted to lift their spirit by recognising their efforts and sacrifices. 

The widow of Zarephath gives Elijah the last meal intended for her and her son. Would you give your last meal to a poor stranger? A mother would sacrifice for the well-being of her child. Para sa isang ina, kahit ang isusubo niya na lang, kayang kaya niyang ibigay na lang sa anak niya. Pero kaya mo bang ibigay ang dapat sa anak mo para sa ikabubuti ng iba… para sa hindi ninyo kamag-anak? And yet that is exactly what widow did!  She and her son are perilously on the brink of starvation yet, she ungrudgingly offered what she had left to show the prophet a little hospitality. Do we not find it strange that Elijah found himself at the mercy of a widow — one of the poorest, most vulnerable, and least powerful members of the patriarchal society of their time? She who had the least to give, was asked to sacrifice what was within her capacity to give, for sheer compassion for another who was also suffering.  

Generosity does not require us to give beyond our means. Even those who have little but whose hearts are truly generous will find something to give from what they have. There are those who have so much and yet refuse to part with their gifts because it reduces their sense of security. Truly generous souls find their security in Jesus. They trust in God’s merciful providence and live in constant gratitude for God’s blessings in their lives, no matter how small.  Remember the story of PWD Romeo Menil?  Last year, he was featured in the news for having donated the alms he collected from begging on the streets to the victims of flooding in Marikina. 

They say, “There is no generosity unless there is cost.” The gospel widow gave but a few cents to the temple treasury but it was the equivalent of “her whole livelihood” and with it went whatever food or convenience or comfort she could afford to give herself.  Jesus says she gave the most because she gave all that she had compared to the rich folks who gave generously from their excess to be publicly acknowledged. When we drop our donation in the collection basket on Sundays, do we immediately scrounge around for the smallest bill in our purse or do we prepare our offering in accordance to our depth of gratitude for God’s blessings in our life? Do we give with a genuine desire to help support the Church? Would we consider volunteering our time, talent, or expertise to the Church or community?

Generosity does not expect a reward. We should not give for the adulation from others or because we expect something in return. Magdo-donate ka lang ba para iboto ka? Is it necessary to have your picture taken and posted on social media when you make a sizeable donation to charity or the community pantry? Do you feel bad when Fr. Steve forgets to mention your name when he acknowledges major donors for Christ The King’s outreach programs?  True acts of generosity are for God to reward. Sometimes, the reward is instantaneous like the widow of Zarephath whom we are told was never hungry for a year after that. Just to be clear, she did not receive a magic jar that mysteriously refilled itself with flour or a jug that miraculously refilled itself with oil (as it was depicted in the cartoon Superbook). Rather, by God’s mercy she benefitted from the generosity of others who never allowed her to be low on food supplies. Other times, like the widow in the temple, our generosity will go unnoticed and unrecognised by everyone except Jesus. And that should be enough. For God is always good to us and He can never be outdone in His generosity. Wala tayong maipagmamalaki sa Kanya. 

The two widows’ giving everything they had foreshadows the sacrificial giving of Jesus of Himself on the cross.  Through them we are challenged by the gospel not to shy away from the cost of discipleship. We pray that we may be more and more like Jesus who as St. Paul describes to the Corinthians as one “though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) Let us remember that regardless of who we are, where we are and what situation we are in, we can in our humble ways, reach out and help others. No pandemic nor quarantine can and should stop us from being kind and generous to those who are in need. May we have compassion to recognise the suffering of others and the courage to deny ourselves in order to help ease their burdens.