"Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7
“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.” John 12:25
Piety
Let us pray: Jesus, help us to choose to be like you. Generous. Loving. Kind. For the Good of Others. Letting our “self” die so yourself can live in us. Help us to reject the temptations of Satan who wants us to try to be like you but seeking goodness for ourselves, not for others and You. Deliver us from evil and grant us peace today. Amen.
Study
http://www.usccb.org/nab/081006.shtml
What does it mean to be like God?
The behavior to which Paul exhorts us is grounded in God's own pattern of behavior. God is capable of overwhelming generosity, as scripture itself attests (2 Cor 9:9). God will provide in abundance, both supplying our natural needs and increasing our righteousness.
Paul challenges us to godlike generosity and reminds us of the fundamental motive for encouragement: God himself cannot be outdone. To be God-like means to exemplify this generosity.
Many people in Jesus’ day, even among the authorities, believed in Jesus. However, because of the Pharisees they did not acknowledge it openly in order not to be expelled from the synagogue for they preferred human praise to the glory of God. They hid their God-like behavior.
Action
As we attempt to carry out our role in the world, God stands by us, nudging us now in one direction, now in another, inspiring us to do this or that, leading us to carry out the divine plan for us and for those around us and, indeed, for the whole of creation. [1] We have to acknowledge what God asks of us. It’s our choice.
In the end, to be God-like requires a choice. Between generosity and selfishness. Between good and evil. Between the following the infinitely good works of God or the finite work of Satan.
How do you choose? Either-Or. You can not have it both ways.
[1] Being Catholic: How We Believe, Practice and Think
1 comment:
Hi Edna – when I look at who Christ counted on, I find it easy to start with Mary. Christ counted on her response to bring about His entry into the world. He counted on Joseph having the right response to dreams. And there’s that bunch in Heb 11, starting with Abel… It’s interesting to read Acts to see who else he was counting on - in His word to Ananias: “I myself will show Paul how much he will suffer on my account.” Well, those are some of the famous ones. The unknown ones, like you and me? If we belong to him (2 Cor 13:5) , then Christ is counting on us, and we are counting on Him. It’s a two-way street.
Post a Comment