It is 10th August 2020. We celebrate the Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr.
The readings are from 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; and the Gospel from John 12:24-26.
The place of poor in our life is the way we keep God in our heart. Giving is not a liability as receiving remains a responsibility. We have received from God more than we can count but what we have given to the poor not mesmerized by memory.
“Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)
Giving is neither a privilege nor a power but it is the way we are created. As we grow, we decrease the way we are created by God, so we create a person who engages and enrages in receiving. “Happy are those who consider the poor; the Lord delivers them in the day of trouble.” (Ps.41:1)
We are born to give but as we grow up we have learnt to receive more.
The first reading invites us to be the generous person as God wants us to be. Giving generates energy in and around us. Happiness we enjoy in giving is so special and therapeutic. Every Eucharistic celebration provides this opportunity and propels us to be thankful and become a contributor without any advertisements and attachments. Our ego, greed, and selfishness dissolves only by giving the best we have. The less we give, more we protrude in pride. No one need to attend a webinar to train and upbeat in skills of giving. God never created a stingy, and clingy person. “God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” (2 Cor. 9:8). Giving is one form of dying to our selfishness. Generosity to God and the poor are the keys to the doors of Heaven.
The responsorial Psalm acclaims, “Happy the person who takes pity and lends.” (Ps.112:9).
In the Gospel, Jesus asks to learn the lesson from the seed. “Unless a wheat grain falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.” (Jn.12:24). To be fertile spiritually, we need to fertilize the soil of the poor. St. Lawrence offers the model to giving what we cherish mostly. Germination does not depend only on conditions but also the cooperation of the seed and humility to give it all to gain it all. May we grow in our generous giving not for competition and complements but for consistency of being human. May God bless you. Have a lovely day.
Thank you Fr. Giving has allowed to grow in my spiritual journey. Thank you for teaching me to always have a heart for the poor and those that need assistance. God is good all the time.
Good reflections
Thank you Fr. Peter for such a wonderful reflection on generosity. It is spiritual food for us and brings us more closer to God through our deeds of being generous. Thank you Father for your time and the spiritual nourishment you give us every day. God bless.
Amen
Amen
Dear father,
An apt message for this season, during this season where there are many many more in need of what we can give…Thankyou.
Dear father,
An apt message for this season, during this season where there are many many more in need of what we can give…Thankyou.