• Home
• >
• News & Events
• >
• News Articles
• >
• 2024
• >
• December
• >
• 12/2 Embracing the Spirit of Giving
• >

News Articles

Embracing the Spirit of Giving and Sharing This Advent

December 2, 2024

From the Office for Social Ministry

“This is how God loves to act: He does great things, starting from those small things, those freely-given ones. This logic of smallness and giving is so different from ours. We try to accumulate and increase what we have, but Jesus asks us to give, to diminish. We like to add, we like addition; Jesus likes subtraction, taking something away to give it to others. We want to multiply for ourselves; Jesus appreciates it when we share with others, when we share.” - Pope Francis Angelus Reflection on Giving and Sharing, 2021                                                                        

Advent marks the beginning of a holiday season that often gets swept up in a frenzy of buying and receiving. But at its heart, this season invites us to focus on something much deeper: the beauty of giving and sharing in small significant ways. Pope Francis, in his reflections on the Gospel, reminds us that generosity isn’t measured by how much we give, but by the love with which we give it.In the Gospel story of the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes, a young poor boy offers his humble food—five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus uses this small, freely given gift to feed thousands. Pope Francis points out that in the Gospel, instead of the word “multiply” to describe this miracle, we hear the words “to break,” “to give,” and “to distribute.” It’s an important lesson: God takes what little we are willing to give with love out of our shared need and multiplies it in ways beyond our imagination. This miracle is about the abundance available when we give and share freely even when it feels like we don’t have enough. Pope Francis reflects on how the Gospel calls all to "Give what little you have, your talents, your possessions, and make them available to Jesus and to your brothers and sisters in need. Do not be afraid—nothing will be lost, because if you share, God will multiply."

This spirit of giving and sharing is often experienced here in Hawaii. At St. Augustine Catholic Church in Waikiki, parishioners recently celebrated the beginning of the holiday season early by hosting a feast for more than a hundred houseless and local residents on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving Day. Carmen’s Kitchen, the church’s 50-year-old food ministry, expanded its weekday free lunch service in the church parking lot to create a sit-down meal that reflected the true meaning of the season. A local chef who used to cook meals for some of the finest restaurants in Waikiki, along with 20 volunteers from across Hawaii—and beyond—came together, representing a tapestry of cultures and backgrounds. The volunteers were as diverse as the islands themselves: parishioners from Hawaii, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, China and the continental U.S., all shared a sense of purpose—to ensure that those who often go unseen or unwelcomed would experience the warmth of the holiday spirit. They cooked 10 turkeys in the church’s tiny kitchen, transforming them into 150 ample servings of a Thanksgiving feast complete with all the traditional trimmings, including stuffing, cranberries, corn on the cob and pumpkin pie. Each guest was welcomed and escorted individually to tables under shaded tents provided by the volunteers from their own homes.  The feast reflected the aloha spirit and values of the Gospel providing an Ohana sense of belonging and joy, embodying Christ’s call to embrace "the logic of sharing and giving in small significant ways." All who shared in this festive meal left feeling nourished and connected with others in need through loving service.

Pope Francis reminds us that this kind of generosity doesn’t just help others— it transforms us. "Let us ask the Lord for the grace of being generous," he says, "so that our hearts may be opened and we may become kinder." Whether it’s sharing meals, or giving someone a kind word, these small acts of love can make a world of difference. The Gospel calls all to  "Believe in love, the power of service, and the strength of giving freely."Together, let’s celebrate the true spirit of Advent and Christmas: trusting when we give and share, God multiplies.For more on ways to live out this Gospel call here in Hawaii, please reach out to your parish’s social ministry coordinator or visit our website at www.officeforsocialministry.org. This holiday season, let us share the love of Emmanuel, God with us, in the Christ child and “through the intercession of Mary, the poor young woman who gave her entire life to God for us, let us ask for a heart that is poor, but rich in glad and freely given generosity.” Mahalo.