***
2 Corinthians 8: 1-9
We want you to know, brothers and sisters, of the grace of God
that has been given to the churches of Macedonia,
for in a severe test of affliction,
the abundance of their joy and their profound poverty
overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
For according to their means, I can testify,
and beyond their means, spontaneously,
they begged us insistently for the favor of taking part
in the service to the holy ones,
and this, not as we expected,
but they gave themselves first to the Lord
and to us through the will of God,
so that we urged Titus that, as he had already begun,
he should also complete for you this gracious act also.
Now as you excel in every respect,
in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness,
and in the love we have for you,
may you excel in this gracious act also.
I say this not by way of command,
but to test the genuineness of your love
by your concern for others.
For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that for your sake he became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
The Word of the Lord.
***
***
Today we encountered, “Saint Paul the fundraiser.” He’s writing to the church in Corinth, exhorting them to be generous with their resources.
In particular, Paul is taking a collection for the church in Jerusalem, which was exceptionally dear to his heart for two reasons: Christians in Jerusalem were quite poor, and, of course, Jerusalem is the place where Jesus was raised from the dead.
Supporting the Christians in Jerusalem is a tradition that continues to this day as they guard some of the holiest sites in our faith, including the empty tomb.
***
Paul uses several tactics in his appeal:
He tells the Corinthians how generous neighboring churches have been; he stresses the difference between wanting to be generous and actually being generous; and he cites the generosity of Christ, who renounced his place in the kingdom of God to live and die among us.
***
Jesus commands us to have that same generous spirit in the Gospel.
However, instead of stressing the need for financial giving, the Lord commands us to be generous in forgiving our neighbors and loving our enemies.
***
How am I a generous person? Do I give to the poor? Am I generous in terms of giving my time, offering my forgiveness, and even loving those whom I find difficult?
***
God loves a cheerful giver.
May we find a way to be generous today.
***
***
Image credits: (1) Focus Magazine (2) Saint Paul Writing his Epistles, Valentin de Boulogne (3) Focus Magazine