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Tag Archives: cheerful giver

Open Hearts

10 Monday Aug 2020

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cheerful giver, giving, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

Today’s Scripture passages are full of practical advice, some delivered in well known adages. One that we ought to take to heart as essential in these days of closures leading to unemployment is a snippet from St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. It says:

Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 COR 9: 6-7)

Because of working from home, I find there’s less money spent on gasoline. By not participating in “normal” activities, even like shopping or going to the occasional movie, most of us are not spending as much money on anything except food. That calls us in a more direct way to sharing with the poor. Even in situations where our regular bills come due and we might not have more to spend, we still need to turn our attention to those for whom this time of COVID-19 is most devastating to see what we can do to alleviate their distress.

For me, the italicized clause in the text is the most important and a way to grow into our best selves. Grumpy givers might almost as well stay home…although there’s always the chance that the act of giving will be transformative in itself. It isn’t just a question of money; it’s about so much more: awareness, generosity of self and openheartedness, of course! I say to nay-sayers: “Try it! You’ll like it!”

Sowing Seeds

19 Wednesday Jun 2019

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attitude, cheerful giver, Corinthians, generous spirit, giving, sower, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

It’s always interesting to see how the lectionary readings develop themes and contrast examples to modern times. Take for example today’s lesson about being a “cheerful giver.” (God loves a cheerful giver, we are told.) We may think about our capital campaigns, other fundraising activities, or the passing of the plate in church services. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians (9: 6-11) speaks of supplying seed to the sower and bread to the poor…A simpler time, same message. The important thing – also the same – is the attitude with which we give.

When Paul says that those who sow sparingly will reap sparingly, he isn’t talking about seed any more, thus the reference to being cheerful in the giving. I am reminded by that of a poetic quote on a card that I received a very long time ago. It said, in part, ” Give it away, give it all away. Give life away. All…all is gift.” I see the gospel sower walking through a field made ready for seed. Smelling the newly turned soil and feeling the breeze and the warmth of the sun, I join that one with a full complement of seeds in my shoulder bag, reaching in and flinging the seed to the winds, enjoying the freedom of knowing that the harvest to come will help so many more people than myself – most especially the poor in our midst.

It’s that attitude that creates a generous spirit, I think. Letting go becomes the motivation. Bounty in God is the result.

The Cheerful Giver

10 Wednesday Aug 2016

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charity, cheerful giver, Corinthians, feed the poor, justice, martyr, St. Lawrence, St. Paul, The Sophia Center for Spirituality, treasures, valuable

afoodbankThe 2,000 years of Christianity have been punctuated with reminders of our duty toward “the poor among us.” The verse that begins today’s readings is clear. Paul says: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 COR 9:6) We would do well to meditate on the actions of St. Lawrence, whose feast is today, as we consider this Scripture text. He was a deacon in Rome during the early days of Christian persecution about whom almost all of the little that is known is legend. There is no birth date and a question mark follows the printed date of his death (d. 258?). He is remembered, however, as the story goes, for his actions when he was commanded to bring all the holy vessels that comprised the riches of the Church to the prefect (governor). He agreed but asked for three days to put together an inventory of what was valuable. When the prefect returned, Lawrence had gathered “a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons and put them in rows…[and] simply said, ‘These are the treasures of the Church.'” (http://www.americancatholic.org) As you might imagine, St. Lawrence became a martyr shortly thereafter.

I am left after those readings with the same questions that come to me each time I am reminded of this issue of justice in the world. What can I do to help the people in my own community to be fed? Where are the children in our area who go to bed hungry? Why, in one of the riches countries in the world are there so many people who have to make a choice between rent and food or medicine and food or any other need and food? There are many questions about issues both individual and systemic. I find myself most often in the population that is charitable but not so involved in justice work. Today, when rain and mundane tasks will keep me inside, is a good day to take one more step across that line toward the difficult work of justice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once More, With Feeling!

10 Monday Aug 2015

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change, cheerful giver, Corinthians, enlightening, generosity, John, joy, sower, sowing seeds, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

castingseedsOnce more today sowing seeds is the predominant metaphor used in the Scriptures to get life lessons across. First it is Paul who says, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully…for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2COR 9:6) Once again a song from the past, accompanied by energetic arm gestures, plays in my head. We sang, “God loves a cheerful giver; give it all you’ve got!” Why hold on to anything when sharing and generous giving bring such joy? Easily said, I hear in my mind, noting my tendency to hold on to what I have rather than opening my hands.

The gospel answers that question, seeing us not as the sower this time, but as the seed. “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.” (JN 12: 24-26) Our willingness to be broken open by events or relationships or any enlightening insight will always draw us deeper into life. It is our tight fists that keep us from letting go, our unwillingness to be changed that impede our growth.

So today I choose to get out there with open hands and open heart to greet whatever comes calling because I know that generosity on my part is just a fraction of what God is willing to give and my cheerful giving will be met with God’s unbounded joy in my own heart.

A Cheerful Giver

26 Tuesday May 2015

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catholic, cheerful giver, generous, giving, laughter, lightness of life, pay homage, piety, sanctity, singing, Sirach, smiling, St. Philip Neri, The Sophia Center for Spirituality

monklaughThis morning’s first reading from the Book of Sirach (35:1-12) sounds like an ad for “sacrificial giving” in church. It is talking about paying homage to the Lord but goes beyond tithing, which ought to be accomplished in a spirit of joy. Expansion of the theme of actual donation is also implied in such language as: in generous spirit…be not sparing of freewill gifts and Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means. Upon reading this I was thrown back to a song that we used to sing during our novitiate days that began: God loves a cheerful giver; give it all you’ve got! (great emphasis on the second part – sort of like a football fight song, gestures and all). Certainly, we were not singing about monetary contributions to the Church but rather the attitude with which we lived our lives.

Serendipitously, today is the feast of St. Philip Neri who lived in the 1500’s, a tumultuous time for the Christian Church. A summary comment from the website http://www.americancatholic.org offers the following:

Many people feel that such an attractive and jocular personality as Philip’s cannot be combined with intense spirituality. Philip’s life melts our rigid, narrow views of piety. His approach to sanctity was truly catholic, all-embracing and accompanied by a good laugh. Philip always wanted his followers to become not less but more human through their striving for holiness.

So, if they’re not already part of your spiritual backpack, it sounds like a good idea today to add smiling, singing and considering those you meet as friends just waiting to be found, with whom the lightness of life can dispel some of the heaviness of the world.

 

 

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