A POOR man asked a priest, “Why am a poor? The priest answered, “Because you have not learned to give? “What can I give, I don’t have anything,” the poor man responded. “You have a few things, “ the priest told him. “You have a face that can smile, lips that can speak words of praise and goodness to others, a heart that can open up to others, eyes that can look at the other with eyes of goodness, and a body that you can use to help others. So, you’re not poor.” The poor man remained quiet.
When Jesus told his disciples that they are the light of the world and the salt of the earth, he meant this for us too. He reminds us that we have what we need in order to serve. We have abilities and potentials to be inflame the world with goodness, love and justice. We have natural gifts and the fire of the Holy Spirit to fulfill our mission on earth. All that we need to do is to trust the Lord in our capabilities and to serve with the right attitude. We are to be like Jesus who gave himself fully to others.
That is why Jesus said that a lamp couldn’t be put under a bushel basket. Otherwise it won’t shine for others. We have to be like lamps, we need to shine so that others may see.
See what? See the truth of the Gospel, of what real joy and true love is all about, of the real purpose of living, of the key to happiness and fulfillment of life.
Absolutely, we all have something to give, to help in building God’s kingdom here on earth. We call can be a source of joy and hope to others.
A couple in the parish reminds me of this truth. They have been volunteering as catechists for more than fifteen years now. They have been doing this service faithfully and joyfully. They have helped so many parents with the religious education of their children. They have helped parents too grow in deeper understanding of their Catholic Christian faith. They have done this wholeheartedly and free of charge.
A benefactor of the parish, who was a doctor by profession just died recently. I had the opportunity to visit him in the Philippines before he died. During his memorial service, many people spoke only of his goodness and kindness, how he helped many of his patients with their cardiovascular disease, sometimes not charging anyone without insurance.
A Sister who has been working as a missionary in the Philippines shared his experience of this doctor during his visit to the poor village where Sister has been ministering. A family could not bury their father because of lack of funds. The doctor immediately pulled out two hundred dollars from his wallet to pay for the funeral expenses of the poor man.
There is no excuse for us not to help anyone in need, to serve our church or community, or to be an instrument of change in this world. Not only do we have financial resources, we also have time and talents to share.
The worldwide response of help to the super typhoon victims in the Philippines attests to the fact that we all have something to share with those who are suffering and in need.
May we continue to show acts of kindness and compassion, for Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Amen!
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Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas attended St. John Seminary in Camarillo, California and earned his Doctor of Ministry in Preaching from Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri. For twenty years, he has been in the parish ministry of large multi-cultural communities. Since 2002, he has been the pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Los Angeles. Please email Fr. Rodel at [email protected].
