Fruits of the Spirit—Generosity

Octavia (not her real name), a middle-aged woman who I came to know at the first parish in which I served, was a one of those people who often get overlooked. She wasn’t involved in a lot of ministries or committees; she didn’t speak up at parish forums; and she really wasn’t the partying type. She dressed modestly and walked to church. As far as I could tell her life centered on her job and looking after her grandchildren when needed.

But she was there for Mass virtually every week; and, like a lot of other faithful Mass-goers she almost always sat in the same spot. Ours was a small community; and we were fortunate to have a church building that was just the right size—the kind that didn’t cost a fortune to maintain and that didn’t take a whole lot of people to fill. On the other hand, if folks were missing, you noticed.

Even if she missed Mass on occasion, Octavia virtually never missed keeping up with her Sunday contribution envelopes. She must have been serious about tithing, because the amount that she gave back in the mid 1990’s would still be considered a significant contribution today: $60—week in and week out.

Some might hear about Octavia and think of the story of the widow’s mite (Mark 12:41-44, Luke 21:1-4), where Jesus contrasts the great sacrifice of a poor widow in contributing her entire livelihood—a few copper coins—while the wealthy contribute far more money but far less of their substance. It’s important, however, to place this gospel story in the larger context of Jesus’ preceding criticism of the scribes for their pride, ambition, and ostentatious piety. “They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext, recite lengthy prayers” (Mark 12:40a). It is as much a critical observation of a systemic injustice as it as a commendation.

Octavia, by contrast, wasn’t really poor; but she wasn’t wealthy, either. She was, I came to learn, a postal worker—one of thousands who work receiving and sorting the mail in a system that, despite its many difficulties, is still considered among the most efficient and reliable in the world. She was, very simply, generous.
Generosity is our response to and a reflection of God’s own goodness and providence. In the Bible we see it reflected in the thanksgiving and harvest songs like Psalm 68, the beautiful prophecy of hope and redemption we heard in the Mass for the Epiphany of the Lord (Isaiah 60:1-6), and Jesus’ admonition about the measures of forgiveness that we render to others (Luke 6:37-38).

We all marvel at the major donors who are able to put their names on the sides of gymnasiums or fine arts centers or who leave behind foundations that bear their names. We should have that same sense of awe for those countless others whose generosity is far less publicized but no less important, a generosity that even those of us of modest means can emulate.—JC