The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to revive our practice of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to open our hearts to the inspiration of the Spirit to see and act for the wellbeing of all God’s Creation.
In the Reading from the Second Letter to the Corinthians, Paul challenges the community to Godlike generosity.
* [9:8–10] The behavior to which he exhorts them is grounded in God’s own pattern of behavior. God is capable of overwhelming generosity, as scripture itself attests (2 Cor 9:9), so that they need not fear being short. He will provide in abundance, both supplying their natural needs and increasing their righteousness. Paul challenges them to godlike generosity and reminds them of the fundamental motive for encouragement: God himself cannot be outdone. (2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 112 details the blessings received by those who remain close to God.
* [Psalm 112] An acrostic poem detailing the blessings received by those who remain close to God by obedience to the commandments. Among their blessings are children (Ps 112:2), wealth that enables them to be magnanimous (Ps 112:3, 5, 9), and virtue by which they encourage others (Ps 112:4). The just person is an affront to the wicked, whose hopes remain unfulfilled (Ps 112:10). The logic resembles Ps 1; 111. (Psalms, PSALM 112 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus Teaches About Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting.
* [6:1–18] The sermon continues with a warning against doing good in order to be seen and gives three examples, almsgiving (Mt 6:2–4), prayer (Mt 6:5–15), and fasting (Mt 6:16–18). In each, the conduct of the hypocrites (Mt 6:2) is contrasted with that demanded of the disciples. The sayings about reward found here and elsewhere (Mt 5:12, 46; 10:41–42) show that this is a genuine element of Christian moral exhortation. Possibly to underline the difference between the Christian idea of reward and that of the hypocrites, the evangelist uses two different Greek verbs to express the rewarding of the disciples and that of the hypocrites; in the latter case it is the verb apechō, a commercial term for giving a receipt for what has been paid in full (Mt 6:2, 5, 16). (Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Greg Dyche shares his thoughts “I’ll give him all I can if he works for it.” I know it sounds ridiculous, but I sense this kind of logic in the prosperity gospel so common today, “Give until it hurts, and God will repay you many times over.”
Once I was clearly moved to help a homeless man. I knew this man over a few weeks, and he could use some help. I hesitated. What if he asked to take a shower in my house? What if he wanted to spend time with me? I was afraid. I knew what I had to do, and I wanted to act. I finally asked if I could help him. He said I could. He really wanted a pack of markers. He didn’t like to beg, and if he had some markers, he could make art to sell in the park. That was it. He never asked for help again.
How did God repay me for the markers? Like the early church leaders, I don’t think the scripture is talking about money. God did repay me in virtue. I was less afraid for a while. I’m surprised how easily I can fall back into my old ways of selfishness and fear.
How do I dust off when I realize I’ve slipped back into my old habits? I start with a prayer of gratitude. I realize what I want to do, and I “must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Since it’s between God and me, I don’t need to consider progress or comparison. I just need to trust and act. God repays me in virtue and faith through practice. (Dyche, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Pray with the angels,” by John Chrysostom, 547-407 A.D.
"When you pray, it is as if you were entering into a palace - not a palace on earth, but far more awesome, a palace in heaven. When you enter there, you do so with complete attentiveness and fitting respect. For in the houses of kings all turmoil is set aside, and silence reigns. Yet here you are being joined by choirs of angels. You are in communion with archangels and singing with the seraphim, who sing with great awe their spiritual hymns and sacred songs to God, the Lord of all. So when you are praying, mingle with these voices, patterning yourself according to their mystical order. It is not to human beings that you are praying but to God, who is present everywhere, who hears even before you speak and who knows already the secrets of the heart. If you pray to this One, you shall receive a great reward. 'For your Father who sees in secret shall reward you openly.' He did not merely say he would give it to you but reward you, as if he himself had made a pledge to you and so honored you with a great honor. Because God himself is hidden, your prayer should be hidden." (excerpt from THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 19.3) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11 comments that what Paul said about the collection we can easily apply to our life of discipleship. The seed we have is the seed of the gospel message, and that’s the most powerful and most life-giving seed the world has ever known. There’s no such thing as waste when we sow this seed. Whether it’s in acts of service, in sharing our faith, in prayers of intercession, or in giving to the poor, we can be confident that your seeds will do what all seeds do—grow and bear fruit.
So sow generously! Give from the abundance the Lord has given you: your money, your time, and your talents. Every time you do, you’ll be revealing God’s merciful love to someone who needs it.
“Thank you, Lord, for calling me to sow seeds of the gospel!” (Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that in 2 Corinthians, Paul is taking up a collection for the poor in Judea. Paul encourages generosity from people a bit better off economically to recognize their God given excess. Turtulian is reputed to have declared that “excess wealth is robbed from the poor.” Jewish people prior to the loss of the Temple realized that sin brought death and the blood of the animal was a kind of life transfusion. The response of rabbis was that prayer, fasting and almsgiving would replace blood sacrifices. Jesus asserts humility and lack of ostentation as we give alms anonymously, and pray not to be seen. When we may put our light on display depends on our motivation. Friar Jude recognizes that fasting can be miserable and he urges us to avoid complaint. As we act to remove food as the center of our focus, fasting can redirect us.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces mystic and theologian Howard Thurman (1899–1981) who writes of faith as the most secure foundation for joy.
There are still others who find their joy deep in the heart of their religious experience. It is not related to, dependent upon, or derived from, any circumstances or conditions in the midst of which they must live. It is a joy independent of all vicissitudes. There is a strange quality of awe in their joy, that is but a reflection of the deep calm water of the spirit out of which it comes. It is primarily a discovery of the soul, when God makes known [God’s] presence, where there are no words, no outward song, only the Divine Movement. This is the joy that the world cannot give. This is the joy that keeps watch against all the emissaries of sadness of mind and weariness of soul. This is the joy that comforts and is the companion, as we walk even through the valley of the shadow of death. [1]
We ask the Spirit to enliven our generosity as we follow Jesus’ instructions regarding prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as actions to open our hearts and help address the needs of the people we encounter on our journey.
References
Dyche, G. (2025, June 18). Daily Reflection June 18, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-june-18-2025
Matthew, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Readings. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6?1
Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-11. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/06/18/1308464/
Psalms, PSALM 112 | USCCB. (n.d.). Readings. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/112?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). What Is the Source of Your Joy? Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/what-is-the-source-of-your-joy/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jun18
2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Readings. Retrieved June 18, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/9?6
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