EVEN THE POOR CAN PROVIDE CHARITY (HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

EVEN THE POOR CAN PROVIDE CHARITY

1kings 17:7-16; Matthew 5:13-16

Ordinarily, the poor is psychologically construed to think in terms of what he or she is to receive rather than what he or she is to give. By extension, the Poor, most times think that they are exonerated from performing acts of charity; that accomplishing charitable works is in the domain of the rich alone. After all, one who is poor is assumed not to have, and even when he or she has a little, it isn't meant to be shared but to be preserved for personal welfare. However, little do the Poor know that “blessed is the hand that gives than the one that receives”. Brother and Sisters in Christ, the Widow of Zarephath had proven otherwise; that even the poor can be providers of charity and not necessarily beneficiaries.

The widow and her son, even in their abject poverty prioritized from the little they had, the welfare of the prophet Elijah who made an appeal to be given a morsel of bread to eat. The Widow knew quite apparent that the meal was their last, yet from the little piece they had, she could accommodate the request of the prophet Elijah, so much so that a meal, ordinarily insufficient for two, became a portion for three. Beloved in Christ, God loves a cheerful giver (2Cor 9:7) and whatsoever we do the least of these brothers and sister, we do it unto Christ (Mt 25:40). We are told that “the jar of meal did not empty nor did the jug of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sent rain on the earth” (1kings 17:14). 

Friends in Christ,  by the very essence of our identity as Christians, we are ministers of love and charity to people around us. Nothing whatsoever must obstruct the fulfillment of this identity; not even poverty. We do so not minding the gender, colour, race, class, language, nationality, etc of the receiver; for through charity Christians bring God closer to the hearts and minds of people around us. Via charity, Christians fulfill their identity as “salt of the earth and light of the world” (Mt 5:13-14). As ‘salt of the earth’, Christians in the spirit of charity, while dispelling bitterness, grief, and anxiety, must bring the sweetness of joy, happiness, hope, prosperity, etc to every social situation of life; and as

‘light of the world’, guide by the gospel, Christians must eradicate every element of darkness and ignorance and illuminate the world with the light and wisdom of Christ.

We pray this day that every charity we render most especially to those in dare need of our aid, may not go unrewarded. May God shower his abundant blessings upon us and grant us fulfillment of life. Amen

Have a blessed day!

Fr Remi osj