Generosity in the Name of Jesus
We are celebrating the Octave of Easter! During this octave, the Church gives us wonderful scripture readings, specifically from the Acts of the Apostles, and we proclaim that death no longer has power over us. Knowing this reality, and hearing these readings, our souls should feel great and grand this week. We know that Jesus has won the victory, and now we get to participate in it!
In today's reading (Wednesday of the Octave of Easter), a crippled man made a monetary request of Peter. "I have neither silver nor gold," he replied, but he did not end the exchange there. Peter recognized in that moment that money was not the only thing that the crippled man needed, and money was not the only thing that he could give. So, he continued: "but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk" (Acts 3:6). As it turns out, this was a far more profound act of generosity. He gave him a miracle, based on his faith in Jesus.
We can and must imitate Peter. We may be asked for dollars, of which we have few. Yet, like the saint, we can say, "I don't have money, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ receive the gift that He's given to me." Perhaps we are mothers with a gift for organizing a home. Perhaps we are teachers who love to help people learn. Perhaps we are attorneys who can help immigrants navigate the laws of a foreign land. Whatever our vocation or profession, the important thing is that we give it away to others joyfully in the name of Jesus. Our Lord will multiply it many times over if we will give the gift back to Him.
In today's reading (Wednesday of the Octave of Easter), a crippled man made a monetary request of Peter. "I have neither silver nor gold," he replied, but he did not end the exchange there. Peter recognized in that moment that money was not the only thing that the crippled man needed, and money was not the only thing that he could give. So, he continued: "but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazorean, rise and walk" (Acts 3:6). As it turns out, this was a far more profound act of generosity. He gave him a miracle, based on his faith in Jesus.
We can and must imitate Peter. We may be asked for dollars, of which we have few. Yet, like the saint, we can say, "I don't have money, but what I do have I give you: in the name of Jesus Christ receive the gift that He's given to me." Perhaps we are mothers with a gift for organizing a home. Perhaps we are teachers who love to help people learn. Perhaps we are attorneys who can help immigrants navigate the laws of a foreign land. Whatever our vocation or profession, the important thing is that we give it away to others joyfully in the name of Jesus. Our Lord will multiply it many times over if we will give the gift back to Him.
