Reap Bountifully
Brothers and sisters: 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. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7
Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen, amen, I say to you, 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. Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant
be. The Father will honor whoever serves me." John 12:24-26
Piety
“A Franciscan Benediction”
May God bless us with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and
superficial relationships, so that we may live deep within our hearts.
May God bless us with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation
of people, so that we may work for justice, freedom, and peace.
May God bless us with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain,
rejection, starvation, and war, so that we may reach out our hands to comfort
them and turn their pain into joy; and
May God bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a
difference in this world, so that we can do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.
(Thank you for sharing this, Phil!)
Study
God does not ask us to behave any differently than God asked his one
and only Son Jesus to act. Generosity,
service, even extreme sacrifice may be in store for us. God is capable of
overwhelming generosity. Although we can
not match that, we need not fear falling short of his standard. The challenge is in the pursuit, not in the
achievement.
Paul lays down a significant challenge: Be godlike in our generosity
even though God’s standard cannot be outdone.
St. Lawrence took the challenge to heart. He laid down his life to the fire of the
executioner. His life and death speak to
us. “Whether we are ever called to shed
our blood in what has traditionally been called red martyrdom or simply called
to offer our sacrifices daily in a continuous life of poured-out love,
traditionally called white martyrdom, we continue the redemptive work of the
Lord through our daily Christian lives and participation in the life of the
Church.” [i]
He rose above the challenge of allegiance to the country or the emperor
and maintained his allegiance to a Higher Power. He sowed “bountifully” and reaped
“bountifully.”
Action
St Augustine reflected Lawrence’s heroism as an example for all to
emulate: "I tell you, again and again, my brethren, that in the Lord's
garden are to be found not only the roses of His martyrs. In it, there are also
the lilies of the virgins, the ivy of wedded couples, and the violets of
widows. On no account may any class of people despair, thinking that God has
not called them."
What is your unique sacrifice? Our discomfort can not be worse than St.
Lawrence’s fire…
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