By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy

Panaji: Lent is a time for prayer, penance and almsgiving. In short, the period exhorts us to reach out to others in need, or to live serving others. In the Gospel of St Luke (vv38) Jesus assures us, ‘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.” Great saint Paul declares, “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7).

Recently I met a couple who believes in the assurance of Lord Jesus. Parents of five children, the couple (between 13 and 3) smiles, “God works miracles in our lives when we trust him.” They were on the set of Goa’s CCRTV for interview for an episode marking the Pauline Biblical year: —Live like St Paul—A Family Witness.

John narrated an experience in their life. “One day, a friend of ours brought a priest visitor to our home. In the course of our conversation, she explained that he has come from a mission place asking donations. I was in a dilemma. We had gathered 10,000 rupees to pay for our house loans. That is all what we had. I went inside the house and checked with my wife as to what to do. She agreed that we give the sum to the priest. ‘God will provide,’ she said.

“A month later I met a friend of mine at the market. He told me, ‘Listen, I am inspired to give you 10 lakhs (I million) rupees. I got the message while praying.’ I objected, saying I did not require it. But he insisted and I checked with my wife whether to accept it or not. She said that we will accept it on condition that we will pay it back gradually. But my friend said he would expect nothing back.”

We all serve God and his people. But sometimes we are prone to think, “How can I give so much time to the Lord on top of everything else I have to do! Can’t someone else do it?” The short answer is yes, everyone can and should serve the Lord. The Lord is calling each and every one of us to do something for him: serving him by caring for the people around us. He is not asking us to do it alone. And he will certainly reward us in his own time. As we put his love into action, his blessings pour into us. St Francis of Assisi said, “It is in giving that you receive.”

This couple in their late fifties with two grown-up daughters had built up their lives from a humble beginning. Having educated through schools run by nuns and priests, both were dedicated to church activities and gave themselves to the parish selflessly. According to them there is always time when we want to do something. “If I found my intervention was necessary in a neighborhood quarrel I would spontaneously reach there irrespective of the time. My wife would follow slowly. By God’s grace, we have been able to settle disputes and help bring peace in families,” narrated Remedios.

Since all this is done for God, God blesses us unexpectedly,” recalled Ninfa. “For example when we had planned the wedding of our daughter, we were worried about the expenses. Suddenly a friend of ours called in to say that she is going to shoulder all the expenses of the marriage. ‘Leave it to me,’ she said. I was amazed. It was a miracle for me. She reminded me of something I had for her years ago. According to me it was something small and insignificant.”

We become God’s eyes, ears and hands for his people when we reach out to them in their need, offering them a word of encouragement or sometimes a meal. The act may be challenging. It may take us out of our comfort zones. But each time we reach out to another, we are bringing God’s own love to someone in need. As we do this, God will reach out to us and give us a deeper empathy for people who may shrink from going out to others. God will expand our ability to love as Jesus does.

Lent is then a season where we can expand our abilities to serve God better.