20180810
BEING A CHEERFUL GIVER
10 AUGUST, 2018, Friday, St Lawrence,
Deacon and Martyr
Readings at Mass
Liturgical
Colour: Red.
|
First reading
|
|
2 Corinthians 9:6-10 ©
|
|
God loves a cheerful giver
|
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.
|
Responsorial Psalm
|
|
Psalm 111(112):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 ©
|
|
If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a
rich harvest
|
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 CORINTHIANS
9:6-10; JOHN 12:24-26]
As a deacon, one
of the primary responsibilities of St Lawrence was to administer the Church’s
possessionsfor 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 Romans saying, “These are the riches of the
Church.” Truly, the responsorial psalm so aptly applies to him for it
says, “Lavishly he gives to the poor, his generosity shall endure forever.”
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 to God’s love to the poor but most of all, to Christ, for he gave his
life to Jesus by being a martyr for him. He took the words of Jesus
seriously that “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, having been so identified with Christ in His sufferings.
We can be certain that He would also be where His Master is, since Jesus
promised that “If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.” He gave
everything, his whole life to Jesus, his master. And he gave willingly
and happily.
St Lawrence was a
cheerful giver. So admirable and solid was his love for Christ that
when he was being roasted on the grill alive, he, in his pain, could even tell
his executioners, “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;
many will 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, for the poor includes all, the material
and spiritual 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 too can surely learn from St Lawrence because more often
than not, even if we do give, we would give grudgingly and reluctantly, whether
in kind or in service. Sometimes we do it more out of obligation than
true love for the person in need.
In the light of
St Lawrence’s martyrdom for the poor, St Paul reminds us that “Thin
sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap.” We
must begin to start giving in small ways now. We cannot die for Christ as
a martyr if we cannot even die to our passions, desires, attachment and sins.
But as we learn how 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 ourselves more and more.
But let us not just talk about giving; do something today by helping someone,
especially one who is hungry and lonely.
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 Him material things of the earth; He
gives us the eternal gifts of heaven, especially His mercy and
forgiveness. We give Him our death, He gives us His 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 insecurities and anxieties about the future and your material
needs as you give them away.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment