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December 16, 2020Once upon a time, there was a beggar who would sit every day in the same place in the city and ask for help from passersby. He normally would arrive very early in the morning and not leave until the sun went down. Some days were better than others; sometimes he got small coins and sometimes bigger and more valuable coins.
One day, he was told that the king of that kingdom would pass precisely by the street where he sat. He had been through other streets before but had never been through this one. He was excited because the king had a reputation for being very generous. He walked with a bag full of gold coins tied around his waist. Precisely to help the poor and needy.
The night before, he told his wife that the next day would be very special. That day his poverty would end. The king would pass by where he was going to be, he would get out of his carriage and give him a big gold coin as soon as he asked for it.
The next day, he got up earlier than ever. Prepared his blankets, his small container for coins. He hurried to his place. He didn't want anyone else to get there before him. He sat impatiently and waited.
The hours passed and the king seemed not to arrive. But, his joy grew with every minute. His waiting was a joyous waiting. A waiting he knew could transform his life forever. It was a waiting for a coming that he knew would bring him gifts, blessings and a new life. The king would pass in front of him. And, he was ready to make the most out of the opportunity.
Around Noon, the commotion of the people made it clear that the king was walking toward the place where he was. Songs, dances, parties, joy, trumpets! Each time with greater intensity. His heart was beating with happiness at the opportunity to finally be able to stand before the king and receive from him what everyone said he gave. Gold coins that could change his life of poverty and bring a new life. A life that would never be the same.
Finally, the moment arrived. The king, in a beautiful golden carriage, passed in front of him. The man jumped to his feet, stood in front of the carriage and held out his hand asking for money. To his surprise, the king ordered everyone to stop. Slowly got out of his vehicle and approached the poor man. He could hear the gold coins in a bag in his waist. At last, the king stood in front of him.
However, it wasn’t what he expected. The king, instead of giving him a coin, stretched out his hand to him, to the beggar, to the poor, so that he would be the one to give a coin to the king. He turned around in amazement. He slowly reached into his pocket. He began to feel the different coins he was carrying. Some were bigger than others, and he thought: “No way will I give him a big coin. He has many. He doesn’t need my coins. If I have to give him one, it will be the smallest of all."
And so, he did, he took out of his pocket the smallest possible coin and put it in the king's hand. The king looked at it, closed his hand and got into his carriage, to order the caravan to continue.
The man stayed sad and disappointed. Not only had the king not given him a coin, but he had taken away what little he had. He gathered up his things and went home angry. Upon arriving at his humble home, he began to tell his wife what had happened. She couldn't believe it. As he told her, he pulled out everything he carried in his pockets, including the few coins he had collected that day. As he threw them on the table, he noticed that one of them shone in a special way. It was a gold coin. It was exactly the same coin he had given the king.
The man wept inconsolably. If I had only given him the bigger coin … Or better yet. If I had given him all my coins.
My brothers and sisters. Something like this happens with Advent and Christmas. The Lord comes and will pass us. We the needy, the ones who beg for love, truth, salvation. In Advent, we await his coming with eagerness and joy.
But, in passing, he will ask us what we have for him. Traditionally Christmas is the time to give. I hope that this Christmas, you will be the one giving to the Lord. Give him a heart with a deep faith in him. Consecrate your family to him, your job, your whole life to him.
Ultimately, whatever we offer him, the Lord will turn it into gold. Hopefully, you decide not to give him the smallest coin. The least of the hours in the middle of your celebrations. The least time possible. Hopefully, you decide to give him a lot. I hope you decide to give it all.
God is never outdone in generosity, and he will turn it into gold.