That’s the Spirit

Let holy charity
my outward vesture be,
and lowliness become my inner clothing;
true lowliness of heart
which takes the humbler part,
and for its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

This verse reminds me of Jesus teaching gleaned from the Widow’s Mite incident where the gift of the heart is of far more importance than the value of the pocket or purse. In Luke 21:1-4 we read

“Jesus 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." 

How does this story impact on our lives? Are we challenged by Jesus' words or attitude? Might there be some wisdom in this story for us?

In this gospel Jesus places the poor widow up as an example of someone who put her total trust in God’s providence. She gave everything to him.

Who do we identify with in this story? Those who casually give money that they will not miss in the slightest? Or those who give from the little they have. This can also include not just money, but giving of our time, energy, abilities to others even when we are tired or very busy. There is a difference between ‘giving alms’ and sharing ourselves, our goods and good fortune with those who have less, a lot less, than us.

Preaching on this passage, Pope Francis said: ‘Faced with the needs of others, we are called to deprive ourselves of essential things, not only the superfluous; we are called to give the necessary time, not only what remains extra; we are called to give immediately and unconditionally some of our talent, not after using it for our own purposes or our own group’.

Now that needs more than my intention, no matter how good or altruistic my reason; it needs the Spirit to work in me so that my ‘giving’ become my inner clothing; and the blessing of true lowliness of heart.

Father, in Micah 6:8 You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You.

In Jesus name, Amen