A heart that loves will always have a strong impulse to be
generous. The beauty and mystery of generosity shines out when it comes out
freely from the heart without any external compulsion. We see this in the first
reading where a rich woman was inspired to offer Elisha hospitality as he passed
by. She perceived that Elisha was a prophet and followed up her instinct with generosity,
for “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the
law” (Rm 13:10). Charity is the manifestation of the divine love among us. The woman’s
act of charity germinated from her faith in God. Since she recognized Elisha as
a man of God, her act of charity becomes a divine embrace for her. Every
genuine charity flows from God and returns back to Him. And her act of charity
continued to grow. From offering refreshment to the prophet, she prepared a
room where Elisha and his servant could stay anytime he passed by. As charity
grows stronger in the heart of the giver, it spreads and carries the giver
along. At the end, God answered the prayer of the woman through Elisha, who
said to her, “At this season, when the time comes around, you shall embrace a
son.”
Wealth has a magic way of turning our attention ‘inwards’,
locking us up in selfishness. How come this wealthy woman was able to look ‘outwards’
and consider the needs of Elisha? It is because of her faith and love of God,
which she expressed through her generosity. According to the second reading, since
through baptism we were buried with Christ into His death, so also, we shall
live with and walk in the newness of life. Jesus’ self-donation is the greatest
act of generosity. Having received such generosity through baptism, we too must
consider ourselves dead to sin, dead to attachment of wealth, and alive to God
in Christ Jesus. It is by our acts of charity that we live out and testify that
we are alive to God in Jesus, and not to wealth in selfishness.
When the divine life in us prompts us to charity, the
response must show a love greater and stronger than any human relationship. It is
only when our lives are sowed like seed in Christ Jesus can they germinate to
fullness of life and blossom in peace and serenity. Jesus says, “He who finds
his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” True
generosity is a way we deny ourselves and sow our lives in Jesus. And every act
of charity performed to the glory of God must be rewarded, even if it is a cup
of cold water given to these little one because he is a disciple of Jesus, not
for any other reason. This is the generosity that carries us along, and brings answers
to our prayers. Charity is the silent way God cares for us and answers our
prayers. He who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly; and he who sows
bountifully shall also reap bountifully (2 Cor 9:6).
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Sunday July 2, 2023.
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