Whatever You Need

Whatever You Need

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Piety

It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, "a fragrant aroma," an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:17-19

“No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13)

Study

Philippi is where St. Paul first preached about Christ in Europe.  As he readies himself to go on from there (to Corinth, Thessalonica, Ephesus, and other Greek and Roman islands and cities), Paul ends his letter with cordial thanks for the gifts that he got from the people there.  On the one hand, Paul seems to imply that he could have gotten by without their generosity. 

“I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress.”

Even though Paul implies that he did not need the kindness, he is grateful, not for what the gift meant for him, but for the benefits that such generosity will bring to the gift-givers because the gift was more than just a “sweet-smelling oblation to God” – offered through Paul.

The words of Hebrew Bible burnt offerings and sacrifice for others now take on a New Testament character of the risen Christ. The odor of burnt offerings is now replaced with the odor of life in Christ – the living scent of the shepherd and the sheep. 

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifests through us the odor of the knowledge of him in every place. For we are the aroma of Christ for God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to the latter an odor of death that leads to death, to the former an odor of life that leads to life. Who is qualified for this? 2 Corinthians 2:14-16

By giving away what was valuable to themselves, the Philippians were able to serve God – through supporting Paul’s ministry.  But fast forward to the Good News and we find the money-loving Pharisees presented as “slaves to wealth.”  Consequently, they are unable to serve God. “No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Luke 16:13)

Action

A post yesterday on “social media” by Cursillo rector-angel-leader and YDT contributor Phil Russell reminded me of the Capital One credit card commercial.  Phil’s reflection on the weekend Ideal talk echoes the question posed by the bankers: “What’s in your wallet?” 

A lesson from Paul, Luke, the Philippians, and the Pharisees is to reflect on “What’s NOT in your wallet?”  If we are free from being a slave to wealth, then what becomes important is not what is in your bank account by what you can give away from your bank account, wallet or personal wealth from your money and material possessions.

Thanksgiving – a holiday and Holy Day which is not less than two weeks away – opens up the Christmas shopping season.  It also now opens up the Christmas giving season.  Many charities get more than half of their proceeds from contributions the come in during the last five weeks of the year.

This year, make charitable giving a planned act.  Don’t wait to write a string of checks in the last week of the year.  Don’t wait for the telemarketers’ call.  Don’t wait for the bulk-mailed letters.  Do your research now to maximize the charities that you plan to support before the end of the tax year and giving season.  Give money to others before you worry about your Christmas shopping list.

The Better Business Bureau publishes “The Wise Giving Guide” three times a year to help donors make more informed giving decisions.  Each issue includes a cover story on a topic related to charity accountability and a compilation of the latest national charity evaluations. Take a look at these reports and plan your giving as carefully as you plan gift giving to your family and friends.