Daily Meditation for November 19, 2025

At the funeral of a beautiful, generous woman, one of her friends said in tribute, “When she arrived at the gates of Heaven, God said to her, ‘Annie, you used all the talents, energy and goodness I gave you. You’re all used up and ready for this new life.” Unlike Annie, some of us may be tempted to hoard both tangible and intangible possessions — love, forgiveness, encouragement, energy, imagination, intelligence, skill — saving them for ourselves or for some far-off rainy day. Maybe we’re afraid that we’ll find ourselves with empty hands. But God and Annie’s life say, “Spend it all! Be prodigal! Give what you have and even what you think you don’t have.” Or, in Jesus’ words: “Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back” (Luke 6:38).

By Mara Faulkner, OSB