BEING A CHEERFUL GIVER

20150810 BEING A CHEERFUL GIVER

(St Lawrence, Deacon)

Readings at Mass

First reading

2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ©

Do not forget: thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.

  The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one.

Psalm

Psalm 111:1-2,5-9 ©

Happy the man who takes pity and lends.

Happy the man who fears the Lord,

  who takes delight in all his commands.

His sons will be powerful on earth;

  the children of the upright are blessed.

Happy the man who takes pity and lends.

The good man takes pity and lends,

  he conducts his affairs with honour.

The just man will never waver:

  he will be remembered for ever.

Happy the man who takes pity and lends.

He has no fear of evil news;

  with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;

  he will see the downfall of his foes.

Happy the man who takes pity and lends.

Open-handed, he gives to the poor;

  his justice stands firm for ever.

  His head will be raised in glory.

Happy the man who takes pity and lends.

Gospel Acclamation

Jn8:12bc

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;

anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

Gospel

John 12:24-26 ©

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you, most solemnly,

unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies,

it remains only a single grain;

but if it dies,

it yields a rich harvest.

Anyone who loves his life loses it;

anyone who hates his life in this world

will keep it for the eternal life.

If a man serves me, he must follow me,

wherever I am, my servant will be there too.

If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

BEING A CHEERFUL GIVER

SCRIPTURE READINGS: 2 COR 9:6-10; JN 12:24-26

As a deacon, one of the primary responsibilities of St Lawrence was to administer the Church’s possessions for the use of worship and for the poor.   When he was ordered by the Roman authorities to hand over the riches of the Church, he gathered all the poor of Rome; the sick, the blind and the crippled, and presented them to the Roman authorities saying, “These are the riches of the Church”.  Truly, the responsorial psalm so aptly applies to him for it says, “Happy the man who takes pity and lends/ Open-handed, he gives to the poor/   His justice stands firm for ever/ His head will be raised in glory”.

St Lawrence made himself poor so that others might be rich in him.  He took Jesus’ words to heart when Jesus said, “I tell you most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.”  More than just giving to the poor, his whole life was a gift to God and to the whole of humanity.  Indeed, St Lawrence was a witness of God’s love to the poor but most of all, to Christ, for he gave his life to Jesus when his testimony was called forth.  He took the words of Jesus seriously – “Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life”. For this reason, St Lawrence is truly a great saint, since he identified with Christ in His suffering, and we can be certain that he would also be where His Master is since Jesus promised, “If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him”.  He gave his whole life to Jesus, his Master.  And he gave willingly and happily.

St Lawrence was a cheerful giver. So admirable was his love for Christ that when he was being roasted on the grill alive, he could even say to his executioners amidst his suffering, “You can turn me over now, I’m done on that side!”  We remember the exhortation of St Paul when he also said something to that extent, “Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver”.

What is the secret of his generosity?  St Lawrence knew Christ intimately.  He loved Him so much and thus he was able to see Christ in the poor.  He knew that Christ who lives in us is hungry, thirsty, naked and sick in the poor.  So when we refuse the poor, it is Christ whom we reject since He said, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do it unto me.”  In the Gospel, Jesus reminds us, “If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too.”

Today, we are called to follow St Lawrence in giving ourselves to others, by dying to ourselves, so that others may benefit from our self-sacrifice.   The call to die to ourselves so that others might live is in imitation of Christ.  By His death, He has brought life to many.  All of us are called according to our vocation in life; to live for others includes living for those who are materially and spiritually poor. It also includes those who are emotionally broken and those who lack love in their lives.  But we must do so cheerfully, not grudgingly.  We can surely learn from St Lawrence because more often than not, even if we do give, we would do so grudgingly and reluctantly in kind or in service.   Sometimes we do it out of obligation than out of love for the person in need.

In the light of St Lawrence’s martyrdom for the poor, St Paul reminds us, “Thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap.”  We must start giving in small ways now.  We cannot die for Christ as a martyr if we cannot even die to our passions, desires, attachments and sins. But as we learn to give, our hearts will grow.  So if we do not know how to give, begin by giving small things and doing small works of mercy.  In giving alms to the poor or in serving others, we will experience the joy of loving which in turn will empower us to give of ourselves more and more.

If we find the call to empty ourselves for others rather daunting, we can find inspiration from St Paul’s assurance that God cannot be outdone in generosity.  “There is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten.”  We give God material things of the earth, whilst He gives us the eternal gifts of heaven, especially His mercy and forgiveness.   We give Him our death, whilst He gives us life.  Yes, St Caesarius wrote, “Give earthly mercy and you will receive the heavenly kind. The poor man asks of you, and you ask of God: the poor man for food, you for eternal life”.

Let us therefore not withhold anything from the Lord who wants us to serve Him especially in the poor.  The more we give, the more we will receive from Him.  As St Paul wrote, “The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one”. Indeed, you will be surprised how the Lord helps you to overcome your insecurity and anxieties about the future and your material needs when you give these away.

Written by The Most Rev William Goh

Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore

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