Lenten Reflection 3

Scripture

Hebrews 13:16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Devotional Thought

The Didache also teaches that those who have more than enough bear a clear obligation to the poor. “Never turn away the needy; share all your possessions with your brother, and call nothing your own. If you and he share what is immortal in common, how much more should you share what is mortal!”65 Sufficiency is the qualifying marker. That is, if your basic needs have been met and you have money remaining, that money has been given to you by God for a specific purpose, that of meeting the needs of others… The fathers consistently view all Christians—rich or poor—as stewards of their possessions rather than owners. Only God rightfully owns anything. Basil, commenting on the rich fool of Luke 12, states that “what ails his soul is much what ails the glutton, who would burst with cramming rather than give the poor any of his leftovers.” Christopher A. Hall Living Wisely with the Church Fathers

Questions

• How often do I praise God for the things that I have?
• What gifts has God put in my care to help me be more generous?
• How can I work to be more generous in my church and help my church be more generous?