THE SAME AS THE PROPHET’S REWARD
A seminarian came to see his benefactor a few weeks before the start of his last schoolyear in Theology. He informed her the day before that he was coming for her monthly pledge for his seminary formation. That has been a regular thing for them. He would call her and tell her when he was coming, and when he reaches her place, the money is all set and he would be ready to head back to his seminary in Tagaytay.
But that particular month was different. It took her a while to come out and was a bit tentative even when she did. Then she said, “My savings for this month did not reach the amount you need for your tuition. I paid for our electric bill, otherwise our electricity would be cut off.” Then it dawned on him that this woman who had been helping him is not really giving from her surplus. What she had been giving him were the very resources that she lives on. No doubt that woman was serving God as the soon-to-be priest was, and her reward would surely be the same one day.
W. Barclay writes, “We cannot all be prophets and preach and proclaim the word of God, but he who gives God’s messenger the simple gift of hospitality will receive no less reward than the prophet himself.”
The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel can surely provide consolation to most of us who have not been given the special task of being God’s special workers. But we are given opportunities to become sharers in their work, and in their reward, by the simple acts of charity we give to them. Fr. Sandy V. Enhaynes
REFLECTION QUESTION: How do you support the work of God’s special workers, like the priests and nuns?
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous to Your anointed workers without expecting anything in return.
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