Listen

Jesus sat across from the collection box for the temple treasury and observed how the crowd gave their money. Many rich people were throwing in lots of money. One poor widow came forward and put in two small copper coins worth a penny. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I assure you that this poor widow has put in more than everyone who’s been putting money in the treasury. All of them are giving out of their spare change. But she from her hopeless poverty has given everything she had, even what she needed to live on.”

Mark 12:41-44

Think

I have always thought that the best blessing is to bless others. Scripture also advises us that it is better to give than to receive. This results in an irony because most of the time we want to receive and sometimes we find it difficult to give, and even more so when we are in need.

In 2019 I visited El Salvador to take a class on theology and immigration. We visited places with very low resources. I wondered how people could live in those circumstances. Obviously, I was comparing my situation to theirs. One thing that blessed me was to see the joy of the people and how blessed they are with what they have. When we arrived at one home, a child gave the whole group a gift. His mother made us a delicious meal, and his father shared with us fruits from his harvest. In their need, they gave everything to make us feel good and blessed. Experiences like these teach me and confirm to me that it is better to give than to receive, even when we are in need.

Abner Cotto-Bonilla

Question to Ponder:

What do you have to offer others?

Pray

God, I ask you to always help me to give to bless others. Help me to understand that you are my provider. Help me to think of what I have even when I am in need. Bless the people who need you as I need you. Amen.

Go

Keep moving forward and never stop sharing what you have received from God.