Our Church has never mandated how much each should contribute even though we are a non profit organisation and rely solely on the generosity of its Church members. Yet it is always thought of as rich with rich benefactors and so even though many can afford to give more will give their token amounts either in very small notes or coin. We should ask ourselves whom is it we are offering our token amounts to? Is is not the Lord our God Himself and His Holy Church? For its welfare; especially the poorest of the poor who depend on our Church to survive? If we are rich it is only because of our Lord Jesus Christ who has made us rich by giving us all of Himself. This is the generosity of our God! Those who are generous with Him and for Him will know of His generosity in their very own lives.
So it is with the mercy of the Lord our God. The more merciful we are, the more mercy we ourselves will receive from Him. Why curse those who hurt us or see them as enemies? Isn’t that what the devil wants? To separate, scatter and eventually destroy? Why allow ourselves to be his henchmen by hating and cursing our enemies to their doom and eventually following suit? Would it not be better to pray for our enemies so that the Lord might bless them, have their hearts of stone removed and replaced with hearts of flesh so that they too might learn to love as He loves us?
Sweet Saviour of mine, I am far from perfect. But I know that through Your mercy and love Lord I have hope of perfection in You. Amen
First reading
2 Corinthians 8:1-9 †
The Lord Jesus was rich but became poor for your sake
Now here, brothers, is the news of the grace of God which was given in the churches in Macedonia; and of how, throughout great trials by suffering, their constant cheerfulness and their intense poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity. I can swear that they gave not only as much as they could afford, but far more, and quite spontaneously, begging and begging us for the favour of sharing in this service to the saints and, what was quite unexpected, they offered their own selves first to God and, under God, to us.
Because of this, we have asked Titus, since he has already made a beginning, to bring this work of mercy to the same point of success among you. You always have the most of everything – of faith, of eloquence, of understanding, of keenness for any cause, and the biggest share of our affection – so we expect you to put the most into this work of mercy too. It is not an order that I am giving you; I am just testing the genuineness of your love against the keenness of others. Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to make you rich out of his poverty.
Gospel
Matthew 5:43-48
Pray for those who persecute you
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’
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