For those who have gone through poverty and hardship and have come out of it, are generally far more generous than those who have and had everything they needed from the very beginning.
My own mother is one such individual who struggled with poverty growing up. And I am very much in awe of her generosity with the strangers that has come our way over the years. From the waiters, cleaners, garbage disposal men, nurses, just about anyone regardless of age, language or religion. If not money, she would offer them food and drink. Is she a saint? Well no! She has a fiery temper! But at the same time, she possesses a heart of gold for those who are in need. She loves them after the heart of Christ and shows great affection for the poor and the downtrodden. Is my mom perfect? Well I would simply say, that she has a great desire to be perfected through Jesus Christ our Lord, and entrusts herself to the intercession of His mother whom she has a special devotion to. I pray that I can be half as generous as she is! And endeavour to do better as time goes by.
Lord Jesus we thank You for all Your disciples whom we have encountered, who are inspirations for us to love others as You do. Teach and show us the way to love everyone with Your love, let us love them in the perfect love of God our Heavenly Father. Amen
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First reading
2 Corinthians 8:1-9 ·
The Lord Jesus was rich but became poor for your sake
Now here, brothers, is the news of the grace of God which was given in the churches in Macedonia; and of how, throughout great trials by suffering, their constant cheerfulness and their intense poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity. I can swear that they gave not only as much as they could afford, but far more, and quite spontaneously, begging and begging us for the favour of sharing in this service to the saints and, what was quite unexpected, they offered their own selves first to God and, under God, to us.
Because of this, we have asked Titus, since he has already made a beginning, to bring this work of mercy to the same point of success among you. You always have the most of everything – of faith, of eloquence, of understanding, of keenness for any cause, and the biggest share of our affection – so we expect you to put the most into this work of mercy too. It is not an order that I am giving you; I am just testing the genuineness of your love against the keenness of others. Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to make you rich out of his poverty.
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Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48
Pray for those who persecute you
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’
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