During the last few days of June, I went on a private, silent retreat. A retreat is a requirement for deacons so that they take time each year to break away and spend some private time with the Lord. This year, I went to the Franciscan Spirituality Center outside of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. I stayed in a hermitage located on a forested ridge. It was four spiritually-fulfilling days of silence, prayer, reading, contemplation, meditation, and peace. I also reflected on the many gifts that God has graciously given me. And I couldn’t help but to praise and thank God for all of these wonderful gifts. But the important thing for all of us to remember is that we must use these gifts that we have been given.
In today’s Gospel from Matthew (MT 10:7-15), Jesus tells us, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” Sometimes, it’s easy to look at our gifts and the successes that come from them and brag and say that I was the one who was solely responsible for making that happen. After all, I was the one that did all of the work; therefore, I should take the credit. I’ve learned over the years that it takes a lot of time, effort, and spiritual awareness to know that everything is a gift freely given to us from God. Let me say that again: EVERYTHING is a gift freely given to us by God – every breath we take, our brains, our talents, our skills, our personalities, and on and on. All of it is a gift!
However, a gift is only a gift when we use it. With that in mind: how do we use these gifts that we have been given? Do we share them freely, or do we expect something in return?
To give without cost means to take every opportunity to give of ourselves: our time, talent, treasure, wisdom, hands, feet, ears, eyes and heart. There are countless times throughout our day when there is something we can do. It is easy to be stuck in our pattern of doing the duties and demands of our regular day. But we must try to be aware of what we can give, to whom we can give, when we can give, and how we can give.
I challenge you to take some time away from the hectic pace of life and spend some quality time with the Lord. All you need is a couple of hours or so to praise and thank God for the gifts freely given to you, and to seek his guidance on the best way for you to use these gifts to benefit others. St. Ignatius of Loyola wrote this prayer:
Lord, teach me to be generous,
to serve you as you deserve,
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labor and not to look for any reward,
save that of knowing that I do your holy will.
Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give!
