Key:
What these passages tell us about God
What these passages tell us to do
What these passages tell us not to do
Commentary1 2 COR 9:6-10
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. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
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. Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work. As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Responsorial Psalm PS 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9
R. (5) Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Well for the man who is graciousand lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Lavishly he gives to the poor, his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commands. His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth; the upright generation shall be blessed.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Well for the man who is graciousand lends, who conducts his affairs with justice; He shall never be moved; the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
An evil report he shall not fear; his heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear till he looks down upon his foes.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Lavishly he gives to the poor, his generosity shall endure forever; his horn shall be exalted in glory.
R. Blessed the man who is gracious and lends to those in need.
Alleluia JN 8:12BC
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 12:24-26
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."
"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."
1. Today’s readings set out an enriching truth: We are blessed when we bless others. That point is in all three readings. That blessing takes the form of joy, joy for the servant, joy for the person(s) being served, and, I strongly suspect, joy for God.
2. Service can be scary, but we are blessed far beyond the fear if we go forward in spite of the fear. (first reading, gospel). Let me give you an example. Several years ago, I was thrust into leadership of our church’s community breakfast. That involved organizing the cooking enough of food to feed several hundred people. I was scared because I was not at all sure that I could do the job. But I tried anyhow and I can’t adequately describe the joy that resulted. I experienced that joy, so did the folks I worked alongside of, and so did the people that were fed. That sounds a lot like the exponential amount of fruit that can come from a single seed, as Jesus talks about in today’s gospel.
3. God will provide what we need to do what he calls us to. (first reading, gospel) The way He does that may not be obvious beforehand, but we can trust Him to get us what we need. Another example. There were days when we didn’t seem to have enough volunteers to get everything done in time to serve the community breakfast, but God always managed to see that everything got done, one way or another.
4. OK, so how do you do that, how do you get started? This goes beyond today’s readings, but seems to follow from them:
A. Ask a priest or deacon at your parish. He will know what needs are out there and direct you to them.
B. Be open to his suggestions, even if they are somewhat intimidating.
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C. In the meantime and independent of that, be intentional about performing corporal and spiritual acts of mery.
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