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Thursday, July 9, 2015

Today’s Reading | Luke 21:1–4

He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.” (NRSV)

Reflection
In reading this passage, a line from one of my favorite songwriters comes to mind: “Is your love enough or can you love some more?” And, of course, the answer is that I can always love some more. Love multiplies in the giving—one of the amazing rules of God’s economy.

Am I giving all that I can of my other treasures? It’s easy to say I can love more; it’s even possible to feel my love expanding when I consciously make the effort to open my heart, especially in times of feeling constricted and restrained. Can I have that feeling of trust and expansion when giving of my other treasures? My time? My money? My possessions?

Why not? What, really, do I have to lose?

God doesn’t need what I give. But God can use anything, no matter how small, to build the kingdom of peace and righteousness. We often don’t know what effect our actions may have or what use our gifts might be. But if done out of love they may multiply, like the loaves and fishes. Or be a shining coin of hope to someone in days of destruction or despair.

So we give out of love, and we give out of trust—trust that we will be taken care of, and trust that what we give will be used and will grow.

Is my love enough? Yes. And can I love some more? Yes.

Praise be to God.

Prayer
Precious Lord, I cannot begin to know what use you will make of my gifts. I only know that I have been gifted beyond measure in my life. Help me to open my heart, that I may also open my hands and hold the things of this earth loosely, giving freely as I can. Amen.

Written by Anne Ellis, Program Manager for Congregational Life

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