Sunday Reflections

Offering our Gifts for Others

In today’s first reading we hear of a wealthy woman who would stop and provide a meal to the prophet Elisha whenever she saw him walking by. She recognized him to be a holy man and decided to go even more out of her way by providing a furnished room from Elisha to stay. This woman used her gifts and possessions to serve others. This should serve as a model of stewardship for all of us.

Let us ask ourselves, how do we use our gifts to serve others? The woman in the reading is described to be wealthy, so she was able to give from her material wealth to support the prophet. However, while we may not have the
same material wealth as this woman, we all possess the wealth of our time. As stewards we should reflect on how we can use our time to serve Christ and the church. Perhaps one way is by offering our time to help with various ministries that take place over the summer months at the parish.

 
The reading tells us that for her generosity, the woman was prophesized to soon bear her first child. We too as stewards can look forward to the reward of our labours. We will receive the gift of joy in this life as we work towards the ultimate reward of eternal union with God in heaven.

Summary

The woman in the first reading was able to give from her material wealth to support the prophet Elisha. However, while we may not have the same material wealth as this woman, we all possess the wealth of our time. As stewards we should reflect on how we can use our time to serve Christ and the church.