Generous Living

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to contemplate the action we are called to on our journey that will show the Love of God for all people.

Living with Generosity

The reading from the Second Letter of Paul to the Corinthians exhorts us to sowing bountifully.

* [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, n.d.)

Psalm 112 praises the Blessings of the Righteous.

* [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, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, Jesus describes the fruitful nature by a grain of wheat.

* [12:24] This verse implies that through his death Jesus will be accessible to all. It remains just a grain of wheat: this saying is found in the synoptic triple and double traditions (Mk 8:35; Mt 16:25; Lk 9:24; Mt 10:39; Lk 17:33). John adds the phrases (Jn 12:25) in this world and for eternal life.

* [12:25] His life: the Greek word psychē refers to a person’s natural life. It does not mean “soul,” for Hebrew anthropology did not postulate body/soul dualism in the way that is familiar to us. (John, CHAPTER 12, n.d.)

Steve Scholer comments that God gave us unique talents that we should freely share with others as we live out our faith and in service to the Church.

Maybe some of us are great organizers who could help the parish with its events. Maybe some of us are skilled healthcare professionals who could volunteer at clinics for the underserved. Maybe some of us have a green thumb and could help to spruce up the church grounds or an elderly neighbor’s yard.

During our daily Examen of Conscience, we must continue to remind ourselves that we are all beneficiaries of God’s cheerful and endless gifts, and these gifts were given to us in the hope that we would share them with others, that we would not hoard God’s gifts for our own personal benefit but multiply them by reaching out to others.

Just imagine if each of us were truly willing to share our God-given time, talent and treasure for the benefit of his kingdom, how wonderful our world and our brief time here would be. (Scholer, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “The seed must die before being resurrected,” by Irenaeus, 135-202 A.D.

"A cutting from the vine planted in the ground bears fruit in its season, or a kernel of wheat falling into the earth and becoming decomposed rises and is multiplied by the Spirit of God, who contains all things. And then, through the wisdom of God, it serves for our use when, after receiving the Word of God, it becomes the Eucharist, which is the body and blood of Christ. In the same way our bodies, being nourished by it, and deposited in the earth and suffering decomposition there, shall rise at their appointed time. The Word of God grants them resurrection to the glory of God, even the Father who freely gives to this mortal immortality, and to this corruptible incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:53). This is so because the strength of God is made perfect in weakness (1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Corinthians 13:4) in order that we may never become puffed up, as if we had life from ourselves, or become exalted against God with ungrateful minds."(excerpt from AGAINST HERESIES 5.2.3) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-10 comments that St. Lawrence’s witness is a dramatic illustration of St. Paul’s words in today’s first reading that anyone who “sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). Lawrence sowed bountifully as he joyfully served the Lord and as he willingly gave up his life for Christ. And he reaped bountifully: in his ability to face death cheerfully, in the conversions he inspired, and in his glorious entry into heaven.

This promise of reaping bountifully is for us as well. Jesus wants to give us so much. He wants to fill us with joy and courage and the hope of the resurrection. So let’s sow bountifully today by loving the Lord and serving his people every chance we get.

“Lord, teach me to sow bountifully for the sake of your kingdom!” (Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-10, n.d.)

Franciscan Media comments that Lawrence was a Roman deacon under Pope Saint Sixtus II. Four days after this pope was put to death, Lawrence and four clerics suffered martyrdom, probably during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian.

Once again we have a saint about whom almost nothing is known, yet one who has received extraordinary honor in the Church since the fourth century. Almost nothing—yet the greatest fact of his life is certain: He died for Christ. We who are hungry for details about the lives of the saints are again reminded that their holiness was after all, a total response to Christ, expressed perfectly by a death like this. (Saint Lawrence, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on Paul exhortation in 2 Corinthians to give generously. Saint Lawrence showed the poor as the treasure of the Church. Friar Jude reminds us of the humour and generosity with his life attributed to Saint Lawrence.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, reflects on our responsibility to awaken and live from our True Self.

Whether we find our True Self depends in large part on the moments of time we are each allotted, and the moments of freedom that we each receive and choose during that time. Life is indeed “momentous,” created by accumulated moments in which the deeper “I” is slowly revealed if we are ready to see it. Holding our inner blueprint, which is a good description of our soul, and returning it humbly to the world and to God by love and service is indeed of ultimate concern. (Rohr, 2023)

Generosity, humility, and humour are attributes we can appropriate from Saint Lawrence to live fully on our journey.

References

John, CHAPTER 12. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/12?24 

Meditation on 2 Corinthians 9:6-10. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/08/10/752895/ 

Psalms, PSALM 112. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/112?1 

Rohr, R. (2023, August 10). Awakening to Our True Self — Center for Action and Contemplation. Richard Rohr. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/awakening-to-our-true-self-2023-08-10/ 

Saint Lawrence. (n.d.). Franciscan Media. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-lawrence/ 

Scholer, S. (2023, August 10). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/081023.html 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). If It Dies, It Bears Much Fruit. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=aug10a 

2 Corinthians, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/9?6 

Life of the gracious giver

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite contemplation of our opportunity to seed our environment with graciousness and generosity and to be witness to the fullness of life that grows in our midst.

Seeds of Beauty and Truth

Paul exhorts the Corinthians to model the generosity of God, Who cannot be outdone.

* [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.

In the Gospel from John, Jesus prepares His disciples for the coming of His Hour by rejoicing in Life that comes from death to self.

* [12:24] This verse implies that through his death Jesus will be accessible to all. It remains just a grain of wheat: this saying is found in the synoptic triple and double traditions (Mk 8:35; Mt 16:25; Lk 9:24; Mt 10:39; Lk 17:33). John adds the phrases (Jn 12:25) in this world and for eternal life.

Jay Carney shares some of the story of the martyrdom of Lawrence noting that all of us are called to be martyrs in a “small m” way, witnessing to God’s ordinary yet transformative work in our daily lives.

all of us are called to follow Jesus through diakonia or service, especially, as today’s Psalm reminds us, through gracious lending to those in need. It is to this life of self-sacrificing service that Lawrence stands as a faithful witness. At the end of this day, may we look back with Lawrence and say, “It is well-done.”

St Lawrence is celebrated as the Saint of the Day in the post by Franciscan Media that notes we have a saint about whom almost nothing is known, yet one who has received extraordinary honor in the Church since the fourth century. The greatest fact of his life is certain: He died for Christ. We who are hungry for details about the lives of the saints are again reminded that their holiness was after all, a total response to Christ, expressed perfectly by a death like this.

The prefect was so angry he told Lawrence that he would indeed have his wish to die—but it would be by inches. He had a great gridiron prepared with coals beneath it, and had Lawrence’s body placed on it. After the martyr had suffered the pain for a long time, the legend concludes, he made his famous cheerful remark, “It is well done. Turn me over!”

Don Schwager quotes Irenaeus, (135-202 A.D) on the seed that must die before being resurrected.

"A cutting from the vine planted in the ground bears fruit in its season, or a kernel of wheat falling into the earth and becoming decomposed rises and is multiplied by the Spirit of God, who contains all things. And then, through the wisdom of God, it serves for our use when, after receiving the Word of God, it becomes the Eucharist, which is the body and blood of Christ. In the same way our bodies, being nourished by it, and deposited in the earth and suffering decomposition there, shall rise at their appointed time. The Word of God grants them resurrection to the glory of God, even the Father who freely gives to this mortal immortality, and to this corruptible incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:53). This is so because the strength of God is made perfect in weakness (1 Corinthians 15:43; 2 Corinthians 13:4) in order that we may never become puffed up, as if we had life from ourselves, or become exalted against God with ungrateful minds." (excerpt from AGAINST HERESIES 5.2.3)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 12:24-26 comments that as he served, Lawrence became more and more like Jesus until he took on the final likeness: death in the service of God’s people.

Your acts of service may feel monotonous or insignificant, especially when it comes to the people under your own roof. But your family is a real “treasure” of the Church. Like Lawrence, your simple efforts to provide for them, to prepare meals for them, or to create a welcoming home environment can help make you more like Jesus. With every little “death” to selfishness, you can bear much fruit for God.

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the cheerful giver and the needs of the poor, Lawrence, the deacon, brought the “treasures” of the Church to the prefect as the people who followed Christ. We consider the role of social charity and willingness to die for the faith in the Church today.

Frances Hogan reflects on how God transforms our present suffering using the words of Psalm 126.

To express their prayer the psalmist uses the image of sowing and reaping. In the ancient world the time of sowing seed was considered to be a time of mourning, while the reaping of the harvest was the time for rejoicing. It was the dying and rising theme as seen in nature. Through it the people expressed their faith in the life-giving power of God, who transforms our present sufferings by showing us the way through them to future hope – God’s way of leading us from darkness to light (see Isaiah 44:3).

 * [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.

A Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares that in 1969 when he was a young deacon in Acoma Pueblo, one of his jobs was to take the census. Because it was summer and hot, he would start early in the morning, driving his little orange truck to each residence. Invariably at sunrise, he would see a mother outside the door of her home, with her children standing beside her. She and the children would be reaching out with both hands uplifted to “scoop” up the new day and then “pour” it over their heads and bodies as if in blessing. He would sit in my truck until they were finished, thinking how silly it was of Franciscans to think they brought religion to New Mexico 400 years ago!

Looking for beauty all around us is a contemplative practice, an exercise in opening our hearts, minds, and bodies to the divine image. In indigenous traditions, such opening practices often take the form of dance, drumming, song, and trance, embodied forms that Western, and particularly Euro-centric, Christianity has neglected.

The life of the gracious giver may not avoid trauma and tragedy. The practice of seeking beauty and truth opens our being to the Spirit and fullness of Life.

References

(n.d.). IV. Paul's Defense of His Ministry. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/2corinthians/2corinthians9.htm
(n.d.). Psalms, chapter 112 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/112
(n.d.). John, chapter 12 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/john/12
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved August 10, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Saint Lawrence – Franciscan Media. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-lawrence/
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Psalm 126 - Frances Hogan. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from http://www.franceshogan.com/Assets/books/Psalms%20of%20praise/Psalm126.html
(n.d.). Daily Meditations Archives - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 10, 2018, from https://cac.org/category/daily-meditations/