Homily for Ordinary Time 22 - August 28, 2022

 

Homily for August 28, 2022

Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

Hidden Giver

 

            Some of you may know the story, but it’s worth retelling how St. Nicholas became associated with the gift-giving Santa Claus. St. Nicholas was a real-life bishop of Myra, Turkey back in the fourth century, and he was known to be concerned with both the spiritual and the material needs of his flock. One day he heard of a man with three daughters who could not afford to marry them off. Back in those days, a father needed to pay a “dowry” to give his daughters in marriage, but this man was so poor that they had no ability to pay.

            So, according to the story, Bishop Nicholas came to the man’s house at night and threw a bag of gold down his chimney. This was enough for the first daughter to be married. Then, a few years later, he tossed another bag of gold for the second daughter, then another bag for the third. In this way, St. Nicholas became known as a man of vast generosity, leading to his connection to another man who brings gifts down chimneys.

            St. Nicholas – and Jesus – show us the proper way to give: without expecting anything in return, anonymously if possible. This shows that we are motivated by love for God, and not for human praise.

            But this can be challenging! Sometimes in marriage, the temptation is to do an act of service to our spouse…so that we can get something from them. “Honey, I did the dishes for a week, so you should let me go on my hunting trip…dear, I did this or that for you, so I should be allowed a new pair of shoes.” Kids can sometimes do that to their parents – “I’ll do the chores for you as long as you drive me to the mall or get me that new toy.”

            This falls short of the beautiful but challenging ideal of the Gospel. Do we really believe that our hidden acts of service to others do not go unnoticed by God? Do we really believe that He will repay us? So many times we do acts of service or give generous gifts only hoping for an earthly return. But true charity is motivated solely out of love – I love God, and this person is made in His image, so it is worth it to do the dishes for them even if they don’t thank me, or reward me, or even acknowledge that I did anything.

            After all, this is exactly how God acted with us. The Blessed Trinity was completely happy by themselves – they didn’t need anyone or anything, as their joy and delight was complete. But out of absolute generosity, the Father decided to create us – not because He got anything out of it, but simply out of love. He continues to shower so many blessings anonymously – the blessings of food, water, our very life – and so often does not get recognized as the Giver of all these good gifts. And even when He sent His Son to die for us, Jesus did not receive any greater happiness or glory because of His death. Rather, He did it solely to benefit us, with no thought of any benefit for Himself.

            So my challenge to you this week is to find ways to bless others anonymously, without seeking any recognition or thanks – and have the faith to believe that God sees it, delights in it, and will reward us. As St. Augustine put it so succinctly, “Give of your earthly gifts, and receive eternal ones…give earth and receive Heaven!”