“Non multa, sed multum”

THAT’S Latin for “not many, but much,” a reference to how our loving and self-giving should be or how our generosity is shown. What it means is that our loving is not so much a matter of quantity as of quality, not so much of what we give as of how we give it.

This was the lesson Christ wanted to impart to his disciples and to us upon seeing two characters putting some amount in the temple treasury. (cfr. Lk 21,1-4) “He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites.

“So he said, ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all. For all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.’”

The same lesson was also given when Christ was asked by a rich young man what he had to do to gain eternal life. (cfr. Mt 19,16-22) At first, Christ told the man to observe the commandments.

But when the rich kid said he already was observing the commandments but still felt it was not enough, Christ told him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

In other words, it’s not about giving a lot, but rather about giving all. In the end, it’s not so much about giving things, possessions, riches as about giving oneself entirely.

Such attitude is in keeping with what Christ taught about losing one’s life only to find it. “Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 16,25)

We should therefore not be afraid to give ourselves completely to God, because that is actually the best deal we can ever have in this life. It’s in so doing, it’s when we empty ourselves completely, detaching ourselves from earthly things, that we can fill ourselves with nothing other than God himself. And with God, we will have everything else that is necessary to us.

Let’s always remember what Christ said about this point: “Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Mt 6,33) He meant that as long as we seek God first, everything else that we need would be provided for.

We have to be wary of our tendency to think that our true happiness is when we possess things, when we accumulate wealth. Our true treasure is God. That’s why Christ also said:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Mt 6,19-20)

We obviously need material things to live according to our human dignity. But let’s see to it that the acquisition and possession of these material and earthly things is properly motivated and inspired. It should be out of love of God. There should be no ulterior motive.

That is why we have to see to it that we only have what we need or what would help us fulfill our duty to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves in the way Christ commanded us. We should avoid unnecessary, superfluous things that will only serve as temptations.

In the end, what really matters is to see that what we are giving to God and to others are our whole selves. It’s not so much a matter of the quantity that is given, but of the quality, not so much of what is given but of how it is given—with our whole heart, our whole selves!