The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 17 June 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Wednesday, 17 June 2015

Meditation: 2 Corinthians 9:6 Here’s the point: he who plants sparingly also harvests sparingly. 7 Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.[a] 8 Moreover, God has the power to provide you with every gracious gift in abundance, so that always in every way you will have all you need yourselves and be able to provide abundantly for every good cause — 9 as the Tanakh says,

“He gave generously to the poor;

his tzedakah lasts forever.”[b]

10 He who provides both seed for the planter and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your tzedakah. 11 You will be enriched in every way, so that you can be generous in everything. And through us your generosity will cause people to thank God,[Footnotes:

2 Corinthians 9:7 Proverbs 22:8 (Septuagint)

2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9]

11th Week in Ordinary Time
Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6)
Among all the statues and paintings, the signs and symbols in our churches, one sign that doesn’t receive much attention is one of the most important: the “Exit” sign. What we do outside of church—the ways we serve, the degree to which we love, our commitment to evangelization—is a vital counterpart to what we celebrate at Mass.
Paul illustrated this point when he appealed to the Corinthian believers on behalf of their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem had always been poor, and Paul made it a point as he traveled to other churches to ask for donations to help them out. You could say that in addition to being a passionate preacher and a committed pastor, Paul was also a very effective fundraiser! Just look at today’s passage, and you’ll see how good he was at moving people to give generously.
Paul’s ability to mingle pastoral and financial concerns shows us that Christianity is not just about praying and going to Mass. It’s not just about getting redeemed and securing a place for ourselves in heaven. It is just as much about caring for God’s people, binding up the wounded, and preaching the gospel.
But the Christian life isn’t only about the “religious” things we do like prayer, service, and evangelization. It’s also about our approach to recreation, the way we treat our neighbors, our work ethic—even the way we eat and drink. In short, it’s about the way we allow the Holy Spirit to influence us no matter what we are doing. It’s a matter of welcoming the Spirit into all the areas of our lives and keeping them in balance.
We all face the challenge of what we will do after we pass the Exit sign. One of the best ways to answer the challenge is to try our best to stay open to the Spirit’s promptings in all the aspects of our lives: our relationship with God, the way we deal with everyday life, and our call to serve the mission of the Church.
“Father, thank you for your kindness and generosity. Show me how I can have more balance in my walk with you.” Amen!
Psalm 112:1 Halleluyah!

How happy is anyone who fears Adonai,

who greatly delights in his mitzvot.

2 His descendants will be powerful on earth,

a blessed generation of upright people.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,

and his righteousness stands forever.

4 To the upright he shines like a light in the dark,

merciful, compassionate and righteous.

9 He distributes freely, he gives to the poor;

his righteousness stands forever.

His power will be increased honorably.

Matthew 6:1 “Be careful not to parade your acts of tzedakah in front of people in order to be seen by them! If you do, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2 So, when you do tzedakah, don’t announce it with trumpets to win people’s praise, like the hypocrites in the synagogues and on the streets. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already! 3 But you, when you do tzedakah, don’t even let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 4 Then your tzedakah will be in secret; and your Father, who sees what you do in secret, will reward you.

5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites, who love to pray standing in the synagogues and on street corners, so that people can see them. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already! 6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

16 “Now when you fast, don’t go around looking miserable, like the hypocrites. They make sour faces so that people will know they are fasting. Yes! I tell you, they have their reward already! 17 But you, when you fast, wash your face and groom yourself, 18 so that no one will know you are fasting — except your Father, who is with you in secret. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

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