“Brothers and sisters, consider this:
whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,
and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,
for God loves a cheerful giver.
Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,
so that in all things, always having all you need,
you may have an abundance for every good work.
As it is written:
He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;
his righteousness endures forever.
The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food
will supply and multiply your seed
and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
You are being enriched in every way for all generosity,
which through us produces thanksgiving to God.” 2 Cor 9:6-11
We are to extend ourselves to all of mankind, especially the most needy. To do so, we are emulating Jesus who went after the one lost sheep. To love is to give. God loves us and He gives us everything He wants us to have. When we give, as our Lord encourages, we truly deny ourselves. Generosity must be done in silence in order to merit grace from God and not merely the thanksgiving of mortal men. It is very easy to be generous to our relatives or friends but that is not generosity since we will be repaid for that with friendship, thanksgiving and praise. Generosity must extend to the poor and the needy. It is a quest for justice as we have the work of God to provide for those who don’t have. Found at: http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrSbD4LroJVOp0AXZpXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTByMXM3OWtoBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwM4BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg–/RV=2/RE=1434656396/RO=10/RU=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sjohio.org%2fassets%2ftemplates%2fmycustom%2fethereal%2ffiles%2flesson%2fholyspirit%2fLesson19ATheHolySpiritsGiftFruitofGenerosity.pdf/RK=0/RS=vYoWB1hkanH3XZnbXXdf2Cy4pEc–
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others. But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,
and pray to your Father in secret.
“When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.”
After Jesus teaches us how to become a saint in the Sermon on the Mount, he turns to his disciples and explains things more deeply. The first thing he teaches them is to give alms, pray, and fast. The Catholic Church has kept these alive through the season of Lent. They help us to fight sin and gain graces so that we may learn how to die to self and become a saint.
Today’s challenge: Be a cheerful giver and do it in secret. On Friday-fast, on Saturday-sit in silence and listen to God in your heart, Sunday-give alms
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