Do not give the left overs

God does not weigh the property, but the conscience of those who offer.

1. Nobody is so poor that they cannot offer something to God.

While I was in Papua New Guinea, two things caught (kaat) my attention: First, during Mass, at the moment of the offertory, all the people form a line and come to the front to place their alms (donations) . But first, the children come forward—children with almost no clothes or shoes on their feet—yet they always have something in their hands to offer to God. The mothers teach them from the moment they can walk to offer something to God.

The second thing: If I do not ask the poor, I deprive them of the blessing of God.

Let me explain. Being among these people made me feel guilty for asking them. I thought to myself, I should be the one bringing something to them, rather than asking them for help. So, I would always ask the rich to support the mission. But I was mistaken.

From a local preacher, I heard the story of a village that went to the bishop asking for help to build their church. The bishop listened to their request and was silent for a moment. Then he said:

“Of course, I could ask my friends in America to send the money. But I am afraid that if they send me the funds, the blessing of building a church for God will fall in their land, but not here in Papua.”

The chief thought for a while and then answered the bishop:

“Forget about it. We will build the church ourselves. Maybe it won't be as beautiful as the others, but the blessing of dedicating a house to God will fall on our land, on our families, and on our children.”

Those people discover that they also can give something to God, rather than always wait that others give to God, and keeping the material things but losing the blessing of God. I have learned that no one is so poor that they cannot offer something to God, or to their brothers and sisters.

2. What kind of person are you?

What do we hear in today’s readings? The prophet asks a poor woman, a widow with a child, to give him what she has to live on.The woman trusts in God, and God never leaves her without what she needs for her life. He doesn’t make her rich, but the provisions are always on her table.

Brothers, the Gospel today is not meant (ment) for us to simply admire that poor widow, but to imitate her generosity.

I don’t want to judge you, but please, judge yourselves. Return to the Gospel and see what kind of person you are.

Do you give only what seems larger in the eyes of others, but is really the leftovers of your life?

How can we recognize these people?

They are the ones who give the minimum to God—only one hour a week, a few prayers here and there.

They come each week and give God one hour of their 168 hours of the week, and the rest of the time, Jesus is abandoned.

These people may give little to their families, and even worse, some relatives are abandoned in hospitals or nursing homes.

What are you holding back from God?

How often do we give God the leftovers our time and Energy?our time and Energy?

Or maybe you are like the widow, giving to God not the leftovers of your life, but the best—giving the first hour of your day. Not only do you come to Mass on Sundays, but you also visit Jesus during the week.

I know for sure that many of you here are like this widow, always working hard for God and your brothers and sisters.

If you don't know what kind of person you are, I’ll give you a clue. (kloo)

How happy are you in this moment?

A sign that we are not generous with God is sadness. When the young man in the Gospel was not generous with Christ, the Gospel says that he “left sad, for he had many possessions” (Matthew 19:22).

Mother Teresa used to say, “When I saw a person who was sad, I would think that they were denying something to God.”

Brothers, be generous with God. Do not close your hearts, do not close your families. If God asks for space for another child, open your hearts. Do not say, "We don’t have a big house." Mary didn’t have a place to stay, but she still offered what she had—her heart and obedience to God's will—giving birth to the Son of God in a humble cave.”

Trust in God, and God will never leave you without what you need for your salvation, he will give what you need, and in abundance, no in a material sense, but with the graces that need the most for your salvation and your loves ones.

Don’t say that you have nothing. You have your prayers, your sufferings, your time. All of us can offer more to God.

Brothers, do not give God the leftovers. God gave His most precious gift—His Son—and He gives Himself to us every day in the Eucharist.

If those two widows gave everything to God, and if God gave us His Son, what will you give to Him?

When was the last time you gave your best to God?”

God wants you to give so that your heart may be filled with the joy that only He can give you.

Brother Rafael, at 27 years old, learned the deep truth about offering everything to God..." Each time God asked something of him, he gave it completely:

“I gave myself to the Lord with great generosity, but I still hadn’t given Him everything. I gave Him my person, my soul, my career, my family... but there was still one thing left—my illusions, my desires, the hopes of becoming a Trappist, making my vows, and singing Mass. That sustained me in the Trappist life, but God wanted more... I had to transform. He wanted His love to be enough for me.

Yesterday, when I left my house and my parents and siblings, it was one of the hardest days of my life. This is the third time that, to follow Jesus, I have abandoned everything. And I believe this time was a miracle from God, because, by my own strength, I surely would not have been able to endure the hardships—the hunger in my body and the loneliness in my heart. Only God… only God… only God. That is my theme, that is my only thought.”

Remember: there is more joy in giving than in receiving. (Acts 20:35)

And to fulfill our heart with the joy of God, first we have to empty it.

God cannot enter in a heart that is not empty…

Maybe if you are sad right now, it’s because Jesus has found the door of your heart closed.

Look, I'm at the door and I knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and have dinner with him and he with me. Rev 3.20