Giving as Sacrifice, not out of Excess

Author: Chrisma C. Bangaoil
True giving is not about excess; it's about sacrifice. Do you give from abundance or from the heart?
Reflection Date: November 25, 2024 Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: Revelation 14:1-3, 4b-5; Luke 21:1-4

One of the things I am particular about when we do outreach is ensuring that we do not treat our recipients as dumpsites. We sort out donations to make sure we are not giving the poor the garbage of the donors.

What is the right way to give? Today’s Gospel speaks about giving.

The right way of giving is not to give from our excesses. We do not give just because we have extras. Nor do we give because we no longer need what we are giving.

Giving means parting with something important to us because someone else also needs it. It is sacrificing something valuable for the sake of the recipient. This is what the widow demonstrates in today’s Gospel. This is also what Jesus did on the cross.

Do you give out of abundance? Do you give because you have extra? Or do you give from the goodness of your heart?

A Call to Action for Catholic Living: Give with a heart of sacrifice, not out of excess. True giving is parting with something important for the sake of others. Reflect on how you can give from the goodness of your heart, just as Jesus gave for us.