Give and Receive

A blind man sat on the roadside, his tin bowl before him.

A car stopped. The driver, in a hurry, was unable to park. So, he called a passerby:  “Brother, take this money and give it to the blind man.”

The passer-by did so.

The blind man clasped his hands and blessed him:  “God bless you and your family!”

Another man standing nearby mocked him: “Old fool! You’re blessing the wrong person. He only delivered it. The gift came from someone else.”

The blind beggar smiled, “I may be blind, but my God is not. He knows who gave and who only carried. And He knows who mocked, too.”

Our world craves recognition. People post their donations, record their charity work on social media, and want their names to be included on a plaque. But Jesus invites us to another path: “When you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:3-4)

Drop your offering into the church collection, and it will travel far beyond your sight. Your sacrifice may remain unknown to others, yet its impact is immeasurable: it may build a chapel in a distant village, educate a poor child, provide bread to the hungry, medicine to the sick, or sustain a missionary in a far-off land. You might never meet those who will benefit, but their whispered prayers will rise to heaven on your behalf.

There are always "bystanders" ready to criticize when you place your offering in the basket during Mass. Some question your intentions; others doubt the cause; still others remain skeptical about how the money will be used. Yet your offering is not for them: it is an act of faith and love. Entrust it to God, who alone sees both the giver and the gift. Only He knows who carries your offering to distant places, and who, in the end, is blessed by it. Your responsibility is to give with a sincere heart; the fruitfulness of that gift is in God's hands, so often working in ways you may never see or imagine.

Have you ever escaped an accident, found unexpected strength in illness, or felt peace in a difficult moment? I am sure you have, because somewhere in a distant missionary land, someone offers prayers for you every day as their benefactor. And their prayers reached you in your hour of need and surround your life like invisible armour. This is a mysterious exchange of grace. You give what is material, and receive what is spiritual. Remember, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” (Luke 6:38)

Giving as Worship

Giving is more than a duty; it is worship. All that you possess, your time, talents, and treasures, comes from God. You are not the true owners but, rather, stewards entrusted with His gifts. By giving, you acknowledge this truth and share your blessings with others. In every offering you make, you proclaim with humility: "Lord, everything I have is Yours; I return a portion to You in gratitude and love."

Thus, to give is not merely an obligation. It becomes a privilege. It is an act of love and thanksgiving, a way of laying your treasure at the feet of Christ, trusting that He will transform it into grace for the world. That gift, placed on the altar, is joined with the bread and wine and lifted up to God, becoming part of the sacrifice most pleasing to Him.

This is why St. Paul urged the early Christians: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:7)

When you understand this, giving ceases to be a burden. It becomes a joy. You realize that each gift, no matter how small, enters God’s eternal economy of grace. The driver who gave to the blind man may never know the blessing spoken for him. But in heaven, that prayer is recorded forever.

I am sure the lyrics of the song “Thank You for Giving to the Lord” by Ray Boltz will come true in your life when you stand before the Lord. You may be astonished to meet people who will come and say to you, “You didn't have much money, but you gave it anyway. Jesus took the gift you gave, and that's why I'm here today. Thank you for giving to the Lord.”

Practical Ways to Live This Out

1. Give in secret: Support the poor or your parish without drawing attention to it. Let it be between you and God.
    

2. Give consistently: Do not wait for abundance. Even the widow’s two coins mattered.
    

3. Give with trust: You may never see the fruits, but God multiplies your offering.
    

4. Give with love: Don’t just transfer money; let your heart go with your gift.
    

So today, choose to give because your Father sees in secret. Take a step, give to the Church, to the poor, to the missions. Your offering will travel to places you cannot imagine, bless people you will never meet, and return to you in ways only heaven understands. Let your generosity begin now: the world is changed one gift at a time, and you have the power to start that change today.

(Fr. Nilesh Parmar, SJ, is an Indian Jesuit who has served tribal communities in the North East for over 30 years. He is also a lyricist and composer with more than 100 published songs in English and Indian languages.)