One night a man came to Mother Teresa’s house and told her about a family of eight who hadn’t eaten for a week. When she got there, she saw the faces of little ones suffering from malnutrition, so she gave them a sack of rice. Then the children’s mother did something interesting. She kept half the rice and went out carrying the other half. When she returned Mother Teresa asked, ‘Where did you go?’ She answered, ‘To my neighbours; they’re hungry also.’ Mother Teresa says, ‘I wasn’t surprised that she gave; the poor are usually very generous. But I was surprised that she knew they were hungry. As a rule, when we’re suffering, we’ve no time for others.’ The Bible teaches that when we focus on the needs of others God will make sure our needs get met too (Ephesians 6:8). So, we can give generously and confidently. Here’s why: 1) Giving can lead to blessing. Jesus said, ‘If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap.’ 2) The seed you sow now decides the size of the harvest you’ll reap later. No seed is too little to multiply if you’re willing to sow it. We can be confident that God will provide for us, so we’re free to help others as much as we can. And by putting other people’s needs above our own, we’re also demonstrating Jesus’ heart and character to the world.
What now?
Have a look online for St Ignatius’ generosity prayer. Read each line slowly, really focusing and absorbing the words. Try to incorporate it regularly into your prayer time so the message stays fresh in your mind.