CHRIST gave more praise to a poor
widow who put in her two
little coins into the temple’s treasury than to the wealthy people who
gave a lot more. “Those others have all made offerings from their
surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole
livelihood.” (Lk 21,4)
He is reminding us to be generous, just like this poor
widow. But we have to understand what really would constitute genuine
generosity. For sure, the gospel episode would tell us that generosity
is not so much a matter of how much is given as how it is given.
Is our generosity truly from the heart in love with God
and with others? Or is it done simply to do away with an
inconvenience, or worse, with some ulterior motives only? We have to
examine ourselves more closely to see if we are generous, and if our
generosity is genuine.
Nowadays, it’s getting difficult to be truly generous.
There’s so much hypocrisy and deception, a lot of self-interested
calculation and shrewdness surrounding the appearances of generosity.
If ever people give something, certain things often spoil
those acts. There’s the sweet poison of commercialism and materialism,
greed, vanity, envy and self-indulgence that contaminate what
otherwise are good acts.
We need to get out of that system. We may have to exert a
lot of effort to do this because this culture of false generosity
seems to be getting stronger every day.
To be sure, to be truly generous does not mean to be
extravagant and wasteful, just giving out dole-outs that spoil people
more than encouraging them to be more responsible for themselves and
others.
We have to make sure that our generosity does not create a
culture of mendicancy, entitlements and dependence. This is where
prudence has to enter in developing this virtue of generosity.
A prudent generosity gives not only things but his own
self without compromising his own welfare such that one becomes a
problem to his family or to society. It makes sure that what he gives
becomes fruitful and productive, following what Christ said once:
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. And
from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be
asked.” (Lk 12,48)
It’s a generosity that helps people to be responsible,
self-reliant and productive. It knows how to live the spirit of
poverty and detachment even if it exerts all effort to generate more
money not only for oneself but more for the others, for the common
good. It’s a generosity that knows how to make business and is very
enterprising not so much for the profit as for attaining the capacity
to help the others.
A person who is truly generous and prudent is not afraid
to become a billionaire and is not corrupted by money. He is aware of
the requirements of the common good, giving preferential attention to
the poor and needy. He knows how to handle the goods of the earth that
are meant for universal destination even as the right to private
property is also respected.
His generosity is not based on sheer sentimentalism. It’s
not sporadic and reactive, but abiding and pro-active. It’s not merely
theoretical and intentional, but practical and delivered in concrete
terms.
A truly generous and prudent person is always mindful and
thoughtful of the others. He would try his best to know what others
need, and not just wait for these needs to come to his attention. He
is always thinking, planning and strategizing so that the requirements
of social justice, solidarity and charity are met.
He is not afraid to make sacrifices and to deny himself.
He lives the virtue of temperance well. And neither does he flaunt his
generosity. His joy is in the giving. He does not expect any earthly
reward.
Besides, a truly generous and prudent person knows how to
respect the integrity of creation, avoiding anything that can harm the
ecology. He is aware that since some unavoidable mistakes can be
committed in this area, he is also willing to do reparation.
We have to do everything to develop this culture of
prudent generosity in our society. We have to start with the family
where the fundamentals of education and formation take place. Parents
should be empowered and properly equipped to carry out this duty to
their children.
Schools and other institutions should also do their part.
Various plans and programs have to be thought out to make this
important social virtue a living reality. What a world it would be if
we have people who are truly generous and prudent!
little coins into the temple’s treasury than to the wealthy people who
gave a lot more. “Those others have all made offerings from their
surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole
livelihood.” (Lk 21,4)
He is reminding us to be generous, just like this poor
widow. But we have to understand what really would constitute genuine
generosity. For sure, the gospel episode would tell us that generosity
is not so much a matter of how much is given as how it is given.
Is our generosity truly from the heart in love with God
and with others? Or is it done simply to do away with an
inconvenience, or worse, with some ulterior motives only? We have to
examine ourselves more closely to see if we are generous, and if our
generosity is genuine.
Nowadays, it’s getting difficult to be truly generous.
There’s so much hypocrisy and deception, a lot of self-interested
calculation and shrewdness surrounding the appearances of generosity.
If ever people give something, certain things often spoil
those acts. There’s the sweet poison of commercialism and materialism,
greed, vanity, envy and self-indulgence that contaminate what
otherwise are good acts.
We need to get out of that system. We may have to exert a
lot of effort to do this because this culture of false generosity
seems to be getting stronger every day.
To be sure, to be truly generous does not mean to be
extravagant and wasteful, just giving out dole-outs that spoil people
more than encouraging them to be more responsible for themselves and
others.
We have to make sure that our generosity does not create a
culture of mendicancy, entitlements and dependence. This is where
prudence has to enter in developing this virtue of generosity.
A prudent generosity gives not only things but his own
self without compromising his own welfare such that one becomes a
problem to his family or to society. It makes sure that what he gives
becomes fruitful and productive, following what Christ said once:
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded. And
from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be
asked.” (Lk 12,48)
It’s a generosity that helps people to be responsible,
self-reliant and productive. It knows how to live the spirit of
poverty and detachment even if it exerts all effort to generate more
money not only for oneself but more for the others, for the common
good. It’s a generosity that knows how to make business and is very
enterprising not so much for the profit as for attaining the capacity
to help the others.
A person who is truly generous and prudent is not afraid
to become a billionaire and is not corrupted by money. He is aware of
the requirements of the common good, giving preferential attention to
the poor and needy. He knows how to handle the goods of the earth that
are meant for universal destination even as the right to private
property is also respected.
His generosity is not based on sheer sentimentalism. It’s
not sporadic and reactive, but abiding and pro-active. It’s not merely
theoretical and intentional, but practical and delivered in concrete
terms.
A truly generous and prudent person is always mindful and
thoughtful of the others. He would try his best to know what others
need, and not just wait for these needs to come to his attention. He
is always thinking, planning and strategizing so that the requirements
of social justice, solidarity and charity are met.
He is not afraid to make sacrifices and to deny himself.
He lives the virtue of temperance well. And neither does he flaunt his
generosity. His joy is in the giving. He does not expect any earthly
reward.
Besides, a truly generous and prudent person knows how to
respect the integrity of creation, avoiding anything that can harm the
ecology. He is aware that since some unavoidable mistakes can be
committed in this area, he is also willing to do reparation.
We have to do everything to develop this culture of
prudent generosity in our society. We have to start with the family
where the fundamentals of education and formation take place. Parents
should be empowered and properly equipped to carry out this duty to
their children.
Schools and other institutions should also do their part.
Various plans and programs have to be thought out to make this
important social virtue a living reality. What a world it would be if
we have people who are truly generous and prudent!
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