There is a story of a mother who wanted to teach her child how to give. During the Mass, she gave her a 100-peso bill and a 20-peso bill. She told her to make the decision which bill is for the Church and which one is for her candy.

After the Mass, the mother asked her child how much she gave to the Church. She said that because the priest said that the Lord wants a cheerful giver, she gave the 20 pesos away.

My dear friends, this is the illusion of the world. We think that the more we have, the happier we become. Contrary to that, one of the key lessons of the Gospel is about giving and why is it the source of happiness in life.

Three reflections:

1. Words of Christ: “Freely you have received, freely you are to give.”
   In talking about giving, we have a God who always provides. To start with, we came to this world with nothing. Further, we are leaving this world with nothing.
   
   There is also the story of Alexander the Great who once conquered half of the world. Yet when he died, he requested to have his palms open. Why? To show the world that despite all his achievements, there is nothing that can be brought out of this world.
   
2. It All Comes Back
   Anne Frank: “No one ever became poor by giving.” Why? One of the laws of life is that we reap what we sow. If we are generous to others, life will be generous to us.
   
   Think of a teacher who has given all to his students: he taught them well, he helped them well, he inspired them and when necessary, disciplined them. Many years later in his old age, he gets sick. Who helps foot the medical bill? His former students.
   
   I am sure we know of stories of people who are generous with their time, talent, and treasure. It is in giving that we receive.
   
3. Kahlil Gibran: “There are those who give with Joy and there are those that joy is their reward”
   As a priest who has celebrated so many funeral Masses and thus has heard a lot of eulogies, I realized that in the end, only three things matter: kindness, kindness, and kindness.
   
   It is so hard to say goodbye to someone you love but the greatest consolations are that the life of the person was not a wasted one. Instead, that person has touched and made a difference to so many people.

We should reflect on our lives and count our blessings. May we have a grateful heart. As we count our blessings we also realize one thing in life: the many things that can be counted really do not count. The many things that count are those that cannot be counted.