IN GIVING, WE RECEIVE

By Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY

A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, 
OFM Capuchin

IN GIVING, WE RECEIVE

In both the corporal and spiritual world, there is no receiving without some sort of giving.  We find a common theme when we read 2 Kings 4:8-11 and Matthew 10:37-42: “In giving, we receive.”  When Elisha visits the woman and her husband, they welcome him as a holy man of God. Not only do they feed him, but they also decide to prepare a little room for him to stay. They provided hospitality without the expectation of receiving anything. Then, Elisha prophecies that the barren wife will bear a son by the next time he visits. Jesus also teaches His disciples that perfect discipleship entails giving up one’s life and family to receive the blessings imparted by those who spread the good news.

St. Francis of Assisi understood what this meant, so he always prayed this prayer.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

In this Midweek Spiritual Workout, let us thank God for the many blessings received and be a blessing to someone else by giving them a bit of time, attention, care, or a little prayer.

Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin was born in Kibakwe, Mpwapwa, Dodama Tanzania, Africa, on January 23, 1978. He was ordained to the Ministerial Priesthood on July 12, 2012, by Archbishop Gervas John M. Nyaisonga. Following his service as Pastor in his home country of Tanzania, Father was commissioned to the Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Augustine in Pittsburgh, PA, where he was assigned studies and pastoral duty at Immaculate Conception Church in Dudley, PA. After he completed his Master's Degree at Villanova University, Father was reassigned to serve as chaplain and pastoral care at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. He completed his ministry there and returned to Tanzania on May 7, 2024.

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