GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER…

2 Corinthians 9:6-10

6 The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.7 Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.8 And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written, “He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.”10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

John 12:24-26

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.  

MEDITATION 

St PAUL Makes the point that if a believer sow nominally or selfishly, what they shall reap will equally be sparsely. Furthermore a believer who grudgingly or under duress partake in doing  work of charity will equally have a poor harvest with few blessings. Those who leave their comfort zone and reach out to those in need in remote locations will grow in righteousness and have a rich harvest.

THE GOSPEL READING challenges all believers to ‘die to self,’ meaning that we expend ourselves by being in service of others. These days believers tend to employ the aircraft flight emergency instruction manual whereby passengers are to “first” put on our own oxygen mask to save ourselves and to justify our tortoise reluctant delay to offer help to emmediate passengers or neighbors!

Christ makes it rather clear that to be a servant of Him, require that we are in service of His people irrespective of our circumstances, limited time or minimal resources! Those of us who have a narcissistic egomaniac way of life that seeks to only care for our personal needs, desires and self-important elevation and preservation are most likely to loose our salvation! Conversely, when we respond cheerfully to the voice of God and expend ourselves by being in service of others sharing our talents, time, wisdom, energy and resources with those whom the Holy Spirit make known to us, then we shall attract God’s love and honor that shall bring joy and blessings that leads to righteousness! Christ Jesus is the preeminent cheerful, lavish sacrificial offerer who we are to emulate, that shall lead unto our salvation.

LET US PRAY: Psalms 112:1-2,5-9

1 Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends, who conducts his affairs with justice.6 For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered for ever. 7 He is not afraid of evil tidings; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD. 8 His heart is steady, he will not be afraid, until he sees his desire on his adversaries.9 He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever; his horn is exalted in honor.

Author. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days