Gave Out of Her Poverty

Beads of Joy 11-22-10

Gave Out of Her Poverty
©2010 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

What a title.. What in the world does that mean? How do you give out of your poverty? The sentence doesn't make any sense. If you are in poverty, how do you give out of it? That is a great question, I am so glad you asked. Today let us reflect on a very simple gospel that reveals a truth that digs deep in many of us, and that is true charity. Today we are reflecting upon Luke 21:1-4 (The Widows Offering). One thing I especially loved about this gospel is that Jesus, even in the busyness of His ministry, notices the true sacrifice of this woman over all the others, that gave from their wealth. Ok, I sort of alluded to the reality of what this gospel is all about. How far down deep do you dig to give? How much would you consider enough to give? Have you ever given so much that you even raised an eyebrow and thought, ouch, maybe that was too much? Or are you like so many who $1 (one dollar) the weekly basket, while in your other pocket you actually keep all your money? Please don't misunderstand, there are many very poor people who can only dollar the basket each week, and God Bless their generosity. Hmmm I know that strikes a sensitive cord with many, I don't apologize if it did. Not out of being rude, but out of being bold. But for the so many who truly give and do the right thing each week when it comes to sharing and giving, my hats off to you.

So let us look at this, "gave out of her poverty" statement, and really see what our Lord is talking about. Well for starters, we all know there is a huge difference between wealth and poverty, abundance and nothing, plentiful and minimal. You get the idea. So just by knowing all that, we already really have a handle on "gave out of her poverty". Let's say each week a person has about $100 of money that they can play with; you know, kinda play money after the bills are paid and food is on the table. Fine, now that would mean you have some extra money beyond your needs to spend. Now on the other hand, let's say like so many people in our world today; after you get paid at work and you pay your bills and put food on the table, you have nothing at all left over. In fact you need more money to just make ends meet. You have nothing, many of us know that as living in poverty. Now say the person who had the extra money to spend and the one with nothing to spend went to Mass together. When the basket came around the wealthier person put in $40 and the person who had nothing put in $10. I think is rhetorical to our Lord's teaching, but who put in more money?

We all know the answer is, right, the person who put the $10 in the basket, put much more money than that of the one who put in $40. Now mathematically we know that is not true; but know that when it comes to charity and giving, math has nothing to do with it. If someone gives out of their surplus (their extra), they didn't really give from the heart, or should I say, they didn't give with a leaping step of faith. But if you give from the very little you have, and it takes away from the poverty that you live on, then you are giving out of your poverty. In others words, you can't afford to give anything, yet you still do. You have obviously placed more faith in God then in the very money you need to survive on. That is a super neat way to give, in complete trust and faith that God will provide if you run out. My rule of thumb, remember in a past blog I shared some of my rules for my kids with church. Giving is one of the key essential parts of our faith. You always give whether you can afford to or not. Period.

From "Respect My Father's House" blog posted 11/9/10 4. Always put something in the offering every week, no matter what, always give. Yes we all face challenges and we have times where it is impossible to (also) give to your church, my house rule is simple, if we have little we must share it with Jesus, if we have a lot, we share even more, and the hardest of all, if we have nothing, even from that we must share. I kid you not.

Give From Your Poverty

Dig deep in them pockets
Look for charity you wish to share,
Dig deep in them pockets
And give and give if you dare.

Don't lie to yourself as you give
And think that dollar can go in the offering,
Unless of cause all you have is that
Then indeed you are truly giving.

Dig deep in them pockets
Go below that extra line of funds,
Dig deep in them pockets
And really give if your extras in the thousands.

God don't require a set amount
He only wants it to be given trustingly,
God wants us trust fully in Him
So give always, from your poverty.

"Jesus, I trust in You."


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO

Today we pray the Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Birth of Jesus
4. The Presentation in The Temple
5. Finding of Jesus in the Temple