CHEERFUL GIVER
2Corinthians 9:6-10; Psalm 112; John 12:24-26
“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.“ With these words, Paul encourages us to give cheerfully, not grudgingly. Whenever you complain before giving, you begrudge your gift. Some would say “Take it and stop bothering me”. Such persons are not cheerful givers. In giving, the quality of your heart must be equivalent to the quantity of your gifts. You must be happy with what you are giving.
Men with deep faith give without counting the cost or remembering the last time they gave. They give, not because they will receive something in return. They give because their lives have become a blessing. They give because there is a God.
Today, the church celebrates the feast of St. Lawrence. He was a lover of the poor; he lived a fruitful and generous life and offered his life to God in martyrdom. He was generous with all he had, including his life. Today’s gospel says, “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.” Beloved, unless we die to the ways of this life, we cannot yield a rich harvest. If we don’t kill greed, we will be lost forever. What is man without eternal life? Lawrence lost his earthly life and woke up to eternal life. Let us spend our earthly lives in a manner that will bring us eternal life.
SAINT LAWRENCE, PATRON SAINT OF OWNERS AND WORKERS OF FOOD BUSINESSES, PRAY FOR US!
LET US PRAY
Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, the grace to quench the flames of our vices, Thou who didst enable blessed Lawrence to overcome his fiery torments. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
