Many of us must have come across an amazing painting of ‘praying hands’. It has been a masterpiece since the fifteenth century.
Two young wood-carving apprentices in France, Albrecht and Hans mutually expressed their interest in pursuing training and a career in painting.
But such training would cost them a huge amount of money. Poor as they were, they decided that one would work and support the training of the other.
When one would become rich and famous as a painter, he would then support the other. They tossed a coin to decide who works and goes to study first.
Albrecht won the toss and travelled to Venice to commence his training. Hans found a job as a blacksmith and toiled extremely hard to pay for his friend Albrecht’s training.
Years later, Albrecht became rich and famous and returned to meet Hans and pay for his training.
To his shock he found the hands of his friend Hans completely blistered and bruised because of his hard work over the years.
They were hands that could never paint. But those hands spoke volumes of the true meaning of love and sacrifice.
Albrecht painted those praying hands which the world has ever since admired. The Philosopher Socrates once said “There is no possession more valuable than a Good and Faithful friend”.
Our Faith should be lived in loving fellowship with other another, looking to the needs of the other with unselfishness.
Saint Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (Ephesians 5:2).
Using the imagery of a caring Shepherd, Jesus assures and teaches a lesson on love and sacrifice "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:11)”.
Saint Paul exhorts the Philippians “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.(Philippians 2:4).
The Queen of Sweden once sold all her jewels to provide for the building of hospitals and orphanages for the poor people of her kingdom.
She then went around visiting some of the patients in the hospitals.
Tears of great joy and gratitude rolled down the eyes of an old, bed-ridden lady.
When her tears fell on the Royal palms of the Queen, the queen greatly pleased expressed joyfully “God is giving me back my jewels”.
When you lend a helping hand, give your shoulder for someone weary to lean on, when you wipe the tears from someone distressed, when you forgive; you receive blessings that the world’s possessions cannot buy.
Our greatest joys do not come from possessions but from a life of love, sacrifice and self-giving.