St. Vincent de Paul once wrote an instruction to his religious community that impressed on them this reality:
"When the demands of life seem unfair, when you are exhausted and have to pull yourself out of bed yet another time to do some act of service, do it gladly, without counting the cost without self-pity. for if you persevere in serving others , in giving yourself to the poor, if you persevere to the point of completely spending yourself, perhaps someday the poor will find it in their hearts to forgive you. For it is more blessed to give than to receive, and it is also a lot easier."
Jesus in the gospel tells his disciples, of which we seek to belong, "Pay attention to what I am telling you. The son of man is to be handed over to men."
In other words Jesus pulled himself out of bed each morning knowing the service he was called to perform, a service of seeking to give himself away, being spent for the sake of the rest.
It is truly more blessed to give than to receive, because in giving we receive the gift of being conformed to Christ who gives it all away.
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