A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[464] Galatians 3:1-5 Luke 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75 Luke 11:5-13

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“Everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds”

Have you ever been awed by someone’s generosity? Whether it be a stranger or a close friend, we have all experienced selfless giving in one way or another. I’d also venture to say that at one moment or another, we have all selflessly given as well. I like to believe that as human beings, we yearn to give of ourselves and share our gifts and talents.
 
When I hear the word generosity, the first thoughts to enter my mind are memories of my time in the Dominican Republic. I spent last semester abroad in the Dominican Republic through Creighton’s Encuentro Dominicano program, and of my time there, about three weeks were spent living with families in the campos, or rural villages. The examples of generosity during these three weeks are truly limitless. My family there was generous in every sense of the word; they shared their home with me and did whatever they could to make me feel comfortable. I was looking through my journal a few weeks ago, and I stumbled upon one entry that I find to be particularly fitting:
“My campo parents are seriously the sweetest. I was walking to my room just now after brushing my teeth, and my dad was moving the coffee table to the door so that I would have a clear path if I had to get up during the night. I just can’t wrap my mind around how much they care and show their care after only 9 days!”

While generosity is in our nature as humans, our world is obviously not an entirely generous place. There are times we live our lives without thinking of anyone but ourselves. On a more extreme scale, there are people who choose not to give and instead take: take belongings that aren’t theirs, take from the Earth without thinking of the consequences, take the innocence of another human being, or even take another person’s life. Sometimes the selfishness of our world can outshine the selflessness that truly is there, and this can result in a complete lack of faith and hope.

And that’s why this Gospel is so beautiful -- God is all the giving without any of the taking or selfishness. As the Gospel today states, “ask and you will receive, seek and you will find.” God is more generous than we can even wrap our minds around. In times of weakness and struggle, God will never turn away from us. When we feel weighed down by suffering and rejection, God will continue giving.

“How much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”