Daily Retreat 06/16/09
2009 Jun 16 Tue:Ordinary Weekday
2 Cor 8:1-9/Ps 145(146):2. 5-6ab. 6c-7. 8-9a/Mt 5:43-48
From today’s readings: “For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake He became poor although He was rich, so that by His poverty you might become rich.... Praise the Lord, my soul!... Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you....”
The Collection
Resentment and cynicism about Church collections foster some of the most common, but nonetheless poorest, excuses for minimal commitment to “organized religion.” First of all, in the Catholic Church, and in most Protestant denominations, contributions are clearly voluntary, following the example laid down by Paul, who indeed begged the Corinthians and other communities to contribute to collections for the poor, but he never imposed a collection as a tax or entrance fee, for as he explained, “I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others.”
As an inspirational example, Paul cites the conduct of the churches of Macedonia, who, in spite of their own affliction and poverty, “begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones” (which refers to a collection taken up for the poor in Jerusalem). For the generous Macedonians, it thus wasn’t a matter of “giving until it hurts” - instead, they begged for the favor of contributing, because for them, it was a matter of “giving until it feels good!”
All of us can recall personal past acts of generosity that left us “feeling good” for responding to the invitation to share of ourselves. Yet most of us, if we take Paul’s words to heart and reflect honestly on our degree of generosity, should come to admit that we could be doing a lot more! It’s quite easy to give a little, but then constantly cite that donation as the excuse for not giving more. But the Christian attitude goes further, taking to heart Paul’s words: “Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also!”
2 Cor 8:1-9/Ps 145(146):2. 5-6ab. 6c-7. 8-9a/Mt 5:43-48
From today’s readings: “For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake He became poor although He was rich, so that by His poverty you might become rich.... Praise the Lord, my soul!... Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you....”
The Collection
Resentment and cynicism about Church collections foster some of the most common, but nonetheless poorest, excuses for minimal commitment to “organized religion.” First of all, in the Catholic Church, and in most Protestant denominations, contributions are clearly voluntary, following the example laid down by Paul, who indeed begged the Corinthians and other communities to contribute to collections for the poor, but he never imposed a collection as a tax or entrance fee, for as he explained, “I say this not by way of command, but to test the genuineness of your love by your concern for others.”
As an inspirational example, Paul cites the conduct of the churches of Macedonia, who, in spite of their own affliction and poverty, “begged us insistently for the favor of taking part in the service to the holy ones” (which refers to a collection taken up for the poor in Jerusalem). For the generous Macedonians, it thus wasn’t a matter of “giving until it hurts” - instead, they begged for the favor of contributing, because for them, it was a matter of “giving until it feels good!”
All of us can recall personal past acts of generosity that left us “feeling good” for responding to the invitation to share of ourselves. Yet most of us, if we take Paul’s words to heart and reflect honestly on our degree of generosity, should come to admit that we could be doing a lot more! It’s quite easy to give a little, but then constantly cite that donation as the excuse for not giving more. But the Christian attitude goes further, taking to heart Paul’s words: “Now as you excel in every respect, in faith, discourse, knowledge, all earnestness, and in the love we have for you, may you excel in this gracious act also!”
posted by FrPitstick | 6/09/2009
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