Giving

Today’s first reading is one of the very first messages written by a Church leader for the purposes of fundraising. Even St. Paul needed money for the Church to help the poor and perform good works. The cynical among us may roll our eyes and close our ears and wait for the next subject.

The next reading, the Gospel, indeed sounds very different: our Lord speaks of death and eternal life, offering a stern challenge to his hearers.

Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies,
it produces much fruit.

Whoever loves his life
loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.

It sounds very different from the first reading, but it is actually the same message, because ultimately it’s not about money: it’s about our attitude and actions in life.

“God loves a cheerful giver” doesn’t just apply to givers of money: it applies a fortiori to those who give their lives, in martyrdom or in service.

“The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Again, this doesn’t just apply to givers of money.

If we give of ourselves sparingly or hesitantly, in putting our lives on the line or in devoting our lives to service, then (at best) we will receive less of the Lord’s goodness.

If, however, we give of ourselves fully and freely,
in living lives of service or in risking ourselves for the sake of Christ,
then we shall receive in ecstasy
the fullness and the glory of the infinite love of God for eternity
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Are we cheerful givers?