Rupali, with her daughter Dristy who is now fourteen.
“Give, and there will be gifts for you, a full measure, pressed down, shaken up, and running over, will be poured into your lap, because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.”
Today’s gospel presents us with a beautiful image of abundant generosity: “A full measure, pressed down, shaken up, and running over…”
A small act of generosity can make such a difference. When Rupali in Bangladesh was pregnant, she worried that she and her husband wouldn’t be able to afford to keep the baby strong and healthy:
“I used to really worry how I will fulfil my responsibilities towards my child – how I will raise her the way she deserves to be raised, with the right amount of nutrition and care.”
Thankfully, Rupali was not alone. She joined a community group who, with the help of local experts from our church network, provide loans for small businesses and training for people to learn to grow plentiful food, in harmony with their environment.
Rupali received a loan and bought some fish to farm. She used the money she earned to buy ducks and chickens, then a cow and now has a flourishing market garden. Her family is thriving. Her daughter, Dristy, is doing well in school and hopes to become a doctor.
Rupali teaches others the environmentally-friendly farming techniques she learned. With them, she is helping create an eco-village – where everyone has the chance to flourish, in harmony with each other, and with creation. She says:
“I will stay well, I will keep my environment well, and I need to fight to help the people who are around me too. When they are all in a good place, the entire village will be in a good place.”
We all have something we can offer to others – the gift of our time, energy and attention. Like Rupali, let us try to use our talents to help our neighbours, whether locally or globally.
Lent prayer
Compassionate God,
we thank you for your gifts.
Give us generous hearts,
inspire us to share our own gifts,
our time, our talents, our care
so that, through us,
others may know your love.
Amen.
Act
Watch our Lent film and find out more about the story of Rupali and Dristy as they fight the effects of the climate crisis together.