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February 18 |
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One highlight of the trip was visiting a beneficiary of Rice Bowl funds, Maria, whose college scholarship enabled her to study agriculture…Maria and her mother prepared for us a feast of empanadas, rice, beans, cheese, omelets, and rich hot chocolate. Maria’s photo and her story detailing the good news of her scholarship had appeared in Rice Bowl literature that year; over breakfast, the CRS team surprised the family with an updated cardboard Rice Bowl box, now graced with Maria’s smiling face.
As a parting gift, fellow traveler Fr. Rafael blessed Maria’s family and their home. Amid hugs and heartfelt goodbyes, Maria slipped the little box into the priest’s hand. She had penned her family’s name on the side, and we heard the jingling of the few coins she had placed inside. Struggling to choke back tears, Fr. Rafael was still grappling with the grace of this moment when Maria’s father and brother stepped forward to add their own humble offerings. Father shared that during his priesthood, he had preached scores of homilies on the parable of the widow’s mite (Luke 21:1–4), but we all agreed that our understanding of the Gospel parable was forever changed. Even now, when I read this passage of Luke’s Gospel, my heart travels across the miles to Maria, who taught me what giving out of one’s poverty truly means.
—Excerpted from Jesus Every Day, Jesus Every Way |
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Lenten Resources |
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