OPEN HANDS

A lot of people dream to be rich so that they can buy the things that they need and want. Most of them aspire to be rich because they want to lift their family from poverty. There is noth­ing wrong with this ambition. In fact, it is the driving force which pushes people to be more productive and creative. The problem though lies not on striving to acquire money but on the addiction of collecting and hoarding money.

The Church primarily relies on the donations of the people who are well off so that it can provide for the needs those who are materially poor. During natural calamities and disasters, those who are affected and have lost so much ask help from those who have something to share. Thus, we must remember that people who have something can always share with people who have nothing.

In our gospel for today (Luke 16:19-31), we see two persons who have different social status. One person represents the rich and well-blessed, while the other represents those who are materially poor. In the story, we can see how Lazarus, the poor one, extends his hands as he begs at the doors of the rich man for food. The rich man however is unkind and selfish - he would not spare even a little food for Lazarus. The rich man is so preoccupied with the delights of his status and of this world that he has neglected to attend to the needs of his neighbours and of his soul. Thus, he was punished for his hard-heartedness and selfishness.

In our society, we are always tempt­ed by the world’s promise of wealth and op­portunities. At times, some are so mesmerized by these promises that they only think of their personal struggles and self-gratifications, ig­noring the cries of those who are in need right in front of them. Thus, those whom God has blessed with material things neglect to share these blessings to those who are less fortunate.

God’s gifts are meant to be shared and not hoarded. When we give, we must not think of doing this simply because of the prospect that something is given in return. God rewards the benevolent persons but in the manner which we do not expect. God pro­vides for our needs and entrusts us with more blessings so that we could share them to oth­ers. It is in sharing with others that we can give witness the benevolence of God to others.

An open hand is an image of a poor but greatly blessed hands. It is poor because it admits that it cannot hold onto things apart from those which God bestows. It is greatly blessed because only those who open their hands to­wards the Lord can receive His blessings. The open hands also represent generous and caring persons because we could only give and care for others when we willingly open our hands to share our blessings with them and to embrace them.