Firstfruits

May 13, 2008

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Blessed is the man who perseveres in temptation, for when he has been proved he will receive the crown of life that he promised to those who love him. No one experiencing temptation should say, "I am being tempted by God"; for God is not subject to temptation to evil, and he himself tempts no one. Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. James 1:12-14

He enjoined them, "Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." Mark 8:15

Piety

Let us pray: Lord, help us to remember to be thankful for all the gifts that you shower upon us so that we may always be responsive to the needs of those around us in this global village. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/051308.shtml

Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers: all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. James 1:16-18

Firstfruits. The concept was discussed recently in my group reunion after the readings from Pope Benedict’s homily made these references at the Washington mass. The concept caused several of us who are not Biblical scholars to scamper to the reference books and the Internet to chase down its meaning so as NOT to confuse this with the “fruits of the Holy Spirit.”

What does it say?

The notes to the New American Bible teach us that “Acceptance of the gospel message (“the word of truth”) constitutes new birth (“born of water and Spirit” as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:5-6). Christ’s resurrection by necessity makes ours possible and his redemption for our sins makes us the firstfruits (i.e., the offering of the earliest grains, symbolizing the beginning of an abundant harvest) of a new creation.

The ceremony designating the first portion of the harvest to God is set forth in the Hebrew Bible Book of Deuteronomy.

He brought us out of Egypt with his strong hand and outstretched arm, with terrifying power, with signs and wonders; and bringing us into this country, he gave us this land flowing with milk and honey. Therefore, I have now brought you the first fruits of the products of the soil which you, O LORD, have given me.' And having set them before the LORD, your God, you shall bow down in his presence. Then you and your family, together with the Levite and the aliens who live among you, shall make merry over all these good things which the LORD, your God, has given you. Deuteronomy 26:8-11

What does it mean?

As God has showered us with gifts in life and then made us as gifts to Jesus, we in turn are asked to give back to God the sweetest and first portion of our labors. By giving God the firstfruits, Israel acknowledged that all good things come from God and that everything belongs to God. Giving the firstfruits was also a way of expressing trust in God's provision; just as He provided the firstfruits, so He would provide the rest of the crops that were needed.[1]

Although we are not required by New Testament “law” to give our firstfruits to God, we are still asked to support the church, its missions, and the work of those helping people who have genuine needs in today’s society.

What does it matter?

In addition to the fact that God has promised that we, too, will be raised from the dead, in Romans 8:23 Paul says that as redeemed people we possess the "firstfruits of the Spirit." Paul is saying here either that the measure of the Holy Spirit that we now have is but a foretaste of the greater measure there will be in the age to come, or that the gift of the Spirit now is a foretaste of the many other blessings we will have in due course.[2]

Jesus also calls on us to differentiate between the gifts we get from God and the temptations we face from the world. He warns us today not to confuse the two. Only God can provide the true bread of life.

Action

Paul so poetically describes creation groaning in hope and anticipation of the Kingdom.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:18-23

We can hear the earth groaning this week. The groaning of the present time is reverberating with the deadly cyclone that killed 100,000 people and the subsequent humanitarian crisis in Burma. Add to that the food shortages around the world; a serious earthquake and aftershocks in China killed another 10,000; volcanic eruptions in Chile; heightened levels of violence in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well fighting on the streets of Lebanon; and tornadoes in the southern and Midwestern United States.

These and more are calling us to support the Church organizations and the dozens of international and national humanitarian organizations providing immediate and long-term assistance to those affected by these natural and man-made situations.

Please help by offering direct support to groups working in affected areas and spread the word to your friends and colleagues. For a summary of what some groups are doing in Burma alone, see this article (Aid Groups Raise Money in Anticipation of Major Relief Efforts for Cyclone Victims) posted on May 8 in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.

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[1] http://www.delusionresistance.org/christian/firstfruits.html

[2] Ibid.