COUNTING LOOSE CHANGE (Mt 20:1-16a): 21 September 2008 (Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Last night I got stuck in Metro Manila traffic and noticed that for some reason, there seemed to be more beggars and street children than usual. Several beggars later, after giving the car window the customary taps to send them away, I wondered about the last time that I had actually given alms to a beggar. I couldn’t remember when. When I asked myself why, I realized it was because I usually didn’t carry coins in my pocket. Then it struck me: Why do I help only when I have loose change to spare?