True Generosity

32^nd Sunday in the Ordinary Time

November 8, 2015

Mark 12:38-44

“The widow, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood (Mrk 12:44).”

The story of a poor widow in the Jerusalem Temple is one of the most moving stories in the Bible. Through her, Jesus presented to us the true meaning of generosity. Being underprivileged, what the widow had were only things essential to her life. In other words, in all her simplicity, the only thing she possessed was her life. Yet, it does not mean that her poverty prevented her to be generous. In fact, in the small things she shared, she made greater sacrifices. Thus, the real generosity is not only sharing our material belongings that can be easily given away, but it is sharing our very lives.

One experience that always moves my heart is when I gave an extra food to one of our security personnel some years ago. I was just home from a gathering of the Indonesians in Manila, and I brought home some delicious food. Initially I intended to give it to my brothers in the community, but at the second thought, I decided to share it with our employees in the convent especially the security. Upon receiving the food, he said to me, “Can I share this food with some of the poor kids outside the Church?” His gesture astounded me and yet was heartwarming. Being a security guard in Metro Manila, was a dangerous job with little earning, yet his poverty did not prevent him to share a little blessing he had.

One activity in our parish, Redemptor Mundi, in Surabaya, Indonesia is the gift-giving for the poor families during Christmas and Easter seasons. Fr. Andre Kurniawan, OP, the parish priest, encouraged everyone to donate, regardless their financial situations. Lo and behold! The needy, who should be the receipts, contribute also a little things they have for the program. Looking at this, those who have more, are encouraged to share even more. The result was overwhelming as well as liberating.

Surely, we are not also blind to the sad reality that some underprivileged are also driven by their selfishness and exploit other people’s compassion. The well-off also are not spared from greed. Despite the sheer richness they have, they steal even from the poor through various corrupt practices and scams. Living amidst a Jewish society with unjust structure, Jesus understood this well and he taught His disciples that generosity is not on how much or what we give, but ‘who’ we share. The poor widow was not really donating coins to the Temple, but offering her very life to God.

I have been very amazed with people, rich or poor, who are committed into various ministries in the Church. They know that they will not receive any material compensation, and the same time they still need to work to provide for their families, yet they courageously dedicate their precious talent and time for God and the Church. I also admire people who devote themselves as faithful parents. I closely witness myself how the lives of two my friends who just have a little baby are practically turned upside down. Sleepless nights, messy schedules, exhaustion, big spending, are things to endure, yet they endure joyfully for the baby. Really, they give their lives so the baby may have life. Following Jesus’ teaching and the widow’s example, being generous is not so much what or how much we give, but ‘who’ we share.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP