“…know how to give good gifts” (Luke 1:13)

 

“…know how to give good gifts” (Luke 1:13)

There once was a man who was quite well off. When the barn on the farm next to his burned down, the man went out to his smokehouse to get a ham to bring to his neighbor. As he went in, he heard the devil’s voice saying, “What you are doing is such a nice gesture, but just give him the smallest ham and keep the bigger ones for yourself.” As soon as the man heard this, he re-evaluated his decision and put the devil in his place by picking the three biggest hams to give to his neighbor. 

Altruistic giving is giving the very best gifts to others out of love and without expectation of anything in return. Such gifts shame the devil and cause him to flee.

Fr. John