Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As we celebrate the feast of the martyr Saint Lawrence, we hear the invitation of Saint Paul to give generously and cheerfully, "for God loves a cheerful giver." In this passage from 2 Corinthians the apostle is specifically asking for money. A famine has struck Jerusalem and its environs and Christians are suffering. Christians in Macedonia and Corinth must respond.
But giving is not all about money. Giving is an attitude of ready willingness, a posture that is alert and responsive to the needs of others. As Saint Paul describes the life and manners of a Christian, it is an imitation of God. We are made in the image and likeness of God; and our willing generosity, flavored by an eager curiosity as to how we might do more, is the most obvious resemblance. When they see our charity they recognize a God who is worthy of worship.
If our generosity is cautious it is more about the sensibilities, desires, and needs of others than self-protection. Our gift should not offend anyone's dignity. It wants to foster mutual relationships, not end them. We cannot buy off the needy with cheap charity.
I speak idealistically, of course. But an ideal is quite real in the Spirit of God; we have seen its attainment in Saint Lawrence, in the lives of the saints and martyrs, and in Jesus Christ.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.