THERE IS BLESSING IN GIVING 
Some people in our society would want to receive without giving back. In doing this they lose the blessing that comes from giving. Our giving should come from deep within our heart. When our giving does not come from deep within our heart then we lose the blessing. When you give from within your heart you are giving out yourself as a sacrifice. No matter how small the gift is but coming from within your heart makes it big enough. Generosity and kindness is what keeps the world together. Generosity and kindness is what keeps a community together. Generosity and kindness is what keeps a family together. When we stop being generous and kind to one another we create a path way of separation and division. A path way that leads to no progress. The success of a society depends on how generous that society is. Many schools were built out of people’s generosity. Many hospitals were built out of people’s generosity. Many churches and places of worship were built out of people’s generosity. The foundation of Christianity is based on virtues of love, compassion, kindness and generosity. It is based on the love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus would say that the ticket to heaven is; when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was naked you clothed me, when I was sick and in prison you visited me. Because you did this to one of my brothers or sisters you did it to me. Now enter into the kingdom prepared for you. Jesus teaches us that what counts in our Christian faith is our love and generosity. No matter how small we may think our giving is, it is not small in the sight of God. Since the nativity of the Lord the readings has presented Jesus as the light of the world. In todays gospel we hear something different. Jesus now turned to his disciples and his followers and told them, you are the light of the world, you are the salt of the earth. When you live according the teaching and principle of Christ you draw light and sweetness from Christ. Then you shine like light in the midst of darkness of the world and you bring joy and hope in the midst of sadness. Light puts away darkness and salt gives sweetness to taste. Jesus calls us to transform our lives by becoming light and salt so that we can transform other peoples life with our light and sweetness. As our generosity and kindness brings smile in the faces of people we are also blessed for doing so. The first reading from the book of Isaiah shares with us that the light of God’s blessing will shine on those who are generous and kind. Their wounds will quickly be healed and they will be protected by the glory of the Lord and when they call upon the Lord, he will answer them. Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said that every moment we encounter someone we always make a choice to be generous and kind or not to be. In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus teaches us how people make a choice to be generous and kind or not to be. This man was beaten to the point of death. He needed help. A Levite came along and saw him but choice not to help. He walked away by the other side of the road. A priest came along and choice not to help. He walked away by the other side of the road. But a Samaritan came along and chose to help this stranger. Jesus said that those who are kind and generous their good deeds will never be forgotten. Abraham was generous to strangers and he was blessed with a promise of a son. The widow of Zarephath was generous to Elijah and she did not lack food for her family. When you did this to any of my brothers and sisters you did to me. Now come and inherit the Kingdom prepared for you.