Peter (not his real name) was walking in the streets of New York, asking customers at street cafes for a piece of pizza. He hadn’t eaten in a long time and was very hungry. He tried with several people, but everybody chased him away.

Then he went to a beggar sitting tiredly next to a building. He gave him a box with leftover pizza. The man was visibly grateful and started eating immediately.

While the man was eating, Peter came up in disguise. He asked the beggar for a piece of pizza. Without thinking twice, the beggar offered him a piece and the two strangers sat there, enjoying a meal together.

This is a simple story about a beggar, used to being hungry, used to being chased away, used to being treated badly. He had little, but he shared it willingly, not wanting other people to feel bad.

In a way, the circumstances in which the beggar found himself, shaped him. In a way, God used those circumstances to shape him. In a way, God gave him the skills to do good to others, even though he didn’t have much.

All of us have one huge common goal here on earth and that is to make a difference. Everywhere we go God wants to use us to enrich the lives of other people. God wants to use us to do good.

We don’t have to study to do this. We don’t have to do special courses to do it. No, God uses circumstances to shape us so that we can practically live this gift of doing good, which He had also given us.

Each of us is born with a gift, some with a few, to make life easier and more enjoyable for others. It automatically forms part of the package. But some way or another, some of us succeed in hiding it under a bucket and do not share a piece of our pizza.

I wonder why a beggar would share a piece of the little he had, while the cafe customers, who had more than enough, did not see another’s hunger or simply did not give a …?

Maybe they were just brought up like that. Maybe they are so focused on their own dreams and needs that they cannot see how much they do have. And that’s why they also do not see the little others have. That’s why they don’t see the need of others and rather chase them away.

All of us have something of this in us. We all work very hard to get our own world in order and to prepare it for old age. But when we’re so focused on ourselves, others become a nuisance rather than a potential client we can shower with grace. Unfortunately, I’m part of this group too.

Therefore, I will pray for you and me: ²¹ May God, who puts all things together, makes all things whole … now put you together, provide you with everything you need to please him, make us into what gives him most pleasure … so that we can share like the beggar.

Scripture
Hebrews 13:18-25

Reflection
Do you believe God has called you to make a difference?
Do you believe that God equips you to make a difference?
Where do you have to go and make a difference?

Prayer
Father, I cannot do otherwise but see the need in the world around me. I know I have to make a difference and I know You equip me to do so. Help me to start doing it. In Jesus’ Name, amen.