Second Sunday of Lent

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” —Luke 6:38

My first mission was as a catechist in a tribal village in Bangladesh. I used to go there during the week to teach and then on Sundays to lead prayer. The village was seven miles from the convent on a dirt road through the forest. Other than walking, the only means of travel was cycling. When the sun was hot or it rained, I was tempted not to go, but the thought of depriving the students of learning or the people of getting together to pray pushed me to make the hard trip. On every visit their joyous welcome overwhelmed me and made me forget my pain. The villagers’ faith and trust in Divine Providence touched my core. Even in their poverty, they were happy and generous. Their love nourished me to become a better person and deepen my faith. I was truly given more than what I gave.

In today’s broken world, we are challenged by Jesus to accept and share our giftedness. It might be hard; our selfishness and personal interest may stand in our way. But when we open our hearts and share our treasures, we experience God’s love in abundance.

—Written by Sister Pushpa Teresa Gomes

Excerpted from The Gift of the Cross, ed. by Andrew Gawrych, CSC. Copyright (c) 2009 by the Priests of Holy Cross, Indiana Province. Used by permission of the publisher, Ave Maria Press, P.O. Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556, www.avemariapress.com