THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Offaly columnist writes he is 'immensely rich in God'

“For what shall it profit a person, if they shall gain the whole world, and lose their own soul?” (Mark 8:36). Recently, I was being interviewed for a voluntary position when I was asked about my experience of working with the poorest and most vulnerable people in our world.

As I began reflecting on my many years in international development and humanitarian work, something rather profound dawned on me. I suddenly realised just how incredibly rich I am. Not materially or financially, but in faith and spirit. Not because of what I own or have accumulated, but because of the extraordinary privilege of walking alongside some of the poorest people in our world, learning from them and witnessing their remarkable humanity, generosity, compassion, resilience and faith.

I realised that, in so many ways, I am one of the richest people in the world. My riches cannot be counted or deposited in a bank. They are written in the faces of people I have met, the smiles of children, the resilience of mothers and fathers and the faith of people who, despite unimaginable hardship, continue to believe and hope for tomorrow. I went to work among the poorest of the poor believing I had something to give, but somewhere along the journey I discovered that I had received far more than I could ever give.

God's definition of riches

We live in a world that measures success by what we possess. We are encouraged to acquire more, earn more and continually strive for bigger houses, better cars and more comfortable lifestyles. Somewhere along the way, we have allowed our bank balances to become a measure of our worth. But have we got our understanding of wealth completely wrong? What is the value of a beautiful home without love? A full bank account with an empty heart? What is the value of possessing everything we desire if we have lost our capacity to care about those who have nothing? Money can buy a comfortable bed, but not peaceful sleep. It can buy medicine, but cannot guarantee healing. It can buy a house, but cannot purchase a loving home. Jesus reminds us in Luke's Gospel: “For one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.” (Luke 12:15). Perhaps the greatest poverty in our world today is also the poverty of compassion, gratitude and a heart so consumed with having more that it has forgotten how to give.

I am not perfect

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). There is something else I have come to understand on my own journey of faith. Just because I write about spiritual matters, faith, prayer and the love of God does not mean I consider myself holier than anyone else. Far from it. I am human, I have my weaknesses, and I fight temptation. It is a battle every day. I need Jesus every day, every hour, every minute and every second. There have been times in my life when I have been deceived by the material things of this world and the darkness of sin. There were times when I drank too much, lost control of myself and struggled with my thoughts and actions.

I experienced a loneliness and emptiness that material things could never fill. I even experienced the darkness of other people's sin from others when in my younger years. Somewhere deep within, I knew that unless I turned towards God and tried to follow His will, I risked losing my way completely. I do not share this because I have all the answers, or because I believe I have somehow arrived at a place of perfection. I share it because I know what it is to struggle, to feel lost and to need God's mercy. I am profoundly grateful that He has never stopped calling me back to Him. Thank you, Lord, for not giving up on a sinner like me. I have learned that it is not how we start that matters most, but how we finish and, above all, who we become in the Lord. Faith is not about pretending to be perfect. It is about being honest enough to recognise our need for God, humble enough to ask for forgiveness and courageous enough to keep trying. Every new day is another opportunity to begin again.

The poorest of the poor have made me richer

Throughout my years working in international development, including with Self Help Africa, I have encountered families struggling to put food on the table, mothers and girls walking extraordinary distances for water, farmers battling drought and communities facing hunger and uncertainty. I have met children whose dreams are no smaller than ours, but whose opportunities are so much fewer. Yet amidst these challenges, I have witnessed extraordinary humanity such as generosity from people who have almost nothing themselves, hospitality that would put many comfortable households to shame, and faith in God and the eucharist that has humbled me beyond words.

Time and again, I have travelled to Africa and Asia and many parts of Ireland believing I was going to help somebody else, only to return home feeling that I was the one who had been helped.

The poorest of the poor are not poor in dignity, courage, humanity or their capacity to love. They are mothers, fathers, children, farmers, teachers, nurses and dreamers, with names, families and aspirations, deserving of the same dignity and opportunities as you and me. They have taught me that you do not need much to give much, that gratitude is not determined by possessions and that sometimes the greatest gift we can offer another human being is simply to stand beside them, listen and remind them they are not forgotten. St James reminds us, “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith?” (James 2:5). How blessed I am to have encountered these people, to have learned from them and to have allowed their lives to enrich my own.

Rich in faith, rich in love

St Paul offers a beautiful description of this paradox, “Poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.” (2 Corinthians 6:10). The world tells us wealth is about what we keep. The Gospel reminds us that true riches are also about what we give.

Jesus placed the poor, the sick, the abandoned and the forgotten at the very centre of His ministry. He reminds us in Matthew's Gospel, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). What a profound challenge! When we reach out to someone who is hungry, we reach out to Christ. When we stand beside someone suffering, we stand beside Christ. Jesus also tells us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3). Working alongside the poorest has helped me understand these words more deeply. It has humbled me, challenged my priorities and reminded me how little I truly need and how much I have to be grateful for. I do not believe God measures our lives by the size of our bank accounts. I believe He measures them by the size of our hearts.

Perhaps we all need to ask ourselves some uncomfortable questions. Are we becoming richer in possessions but poorer in compassion? Are we so preoccupied with our own comfort that we have become indifferent to the suffering of others? How can we accept a world where children go hungry while others have more than they could ever need? Millions still struggle for clean water, sufficient food, healthcare, justice and education.

Poverty is not something to romanticise or simply pray away. It is something we must challenge. Every human being deserves dignity, opportunity and hope. Compassion must become more than a feeling. It must become an action. We can support organisations working alongside vulnerable communities, contribute what we can, volunteer our time, challenge injustice and help restore hope. We can offer a helping hand rather than a judgemental finger, and a hand up rather than a hand-out. St Paul encourages us, “Let us not grow weary in doing what is right.” (Galatians 6:9). We do not have to change the entire world, but we can change somebody's world.

My greatest wealth is God

As I reflect on my journey, I realise that I have received far more than I could ever have given. The people I have met and the friendships formed across continents are treasures I will carry for the rest of my days. I may never have great material wealth, but if I can bring hope where there is despair, light where there is darkness and love where there is suffering, I consider myself truly blessed. I am rich because I have encountered humanity in its most beautiful form. I am rich because I have witnessed faith in the face of adversity.

And I am rich because, through the lives of the poorest of the poor, I have encountered something of the face of God. Perhaps that is the greatest lesson in that we do not become poorer by sharing what we have. We become richer. I may not be rich in the eyes of the world, but I pray that I will always remain rich in the eyes of God. How blessed I am. How grateful I am. And how privileged I feel that God has allowed me to spend so much of my life learning from people who have given me far more than I could ever repay. May we never become so preoccupied with earthly riches that we become impoverished in the things that matter most. For when our earthly journey ends, we cannot take our possessions with us, but the love we have shared and the lives we have touched will remain our greatest legacy.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, ask yourself, What kind of rich am I? Am I measuring my life by what I own, or by the love I share and the difference I make? Do something meaningful for someone who is struggling. Support a charity, help a family in need, give your time to someone lonely or simply offer a listening ear to somebody who feels forgotten. You do not have to be wealthy to make a difference. You simply need a heart that cares. Perhaps the greatest measure of our wealth is not how much we have, but how much of ourselves we are prepared to share.

Let me leave you with a prayer I wrote for this reflection called, 'Open Us.' - "Loving God, Thank You for the gift of life and for the extraordinary people You place along our journey. Thank You for those who have so little materially, yet have taught us so much about faith, eucharist, humility, generosity and love. Open our eyes to those who are hungry, our ears to those who are crying, our hearts to those who are suffering and our hands to those who need our help. May we never become so rich in the things of this world that we become poor in love, kindness, compassion, empathy and faith. Teach us that we are not here merely to make a living, but to make a difference. For all that we have, may we be grateful. For all that we can give, may we be generous. And for all those who have so little, may we never stop caring. May our lives become a reflection of Your love. Amen."