DAILY PRAYER

“Carry it through now to a successful completion, so that your ready resolve may be matched by giving according to your means.  The willingness to give should accord with one’s means, not go beyond them.” (2 Cor. 8:11-12)

The seventh commandment obliges us to respect our neighbor’s things.  There is a primal instinct in us to defend our ‘stuff”; even though we may see the need to share our of our abundance and the needs of others.

Though we may fancy ourselves as generous, our base instincts get the best of us.

We prefer to spend frivolously and waste money than to share with the needy.

For the Christian, there are two ‘fundamental laws of love.’   One is that we do for others, that which we would prefer they would do for us in similar circumstances: (read Luke 10: 27).   Two, is that which is the most perfect love— that we love one another as Christ has loved us: (read John 13: 34-35)

“For your sake, our Lord Jesus Christ made himself poor though he was rich so that you might become rich by his poverty.” (9)

“I assure you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest.  They make contributions out of their surplus, but she from her want has given what she could not afford—every penny she had to live on.”  (Lk. 21: 3-4)

“Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you… for I was hungry and you gave me food…”  (Mt. 25:31-46)

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 92:6 “How very deep are your thoughts!  A senseless man knows not, nor does the fool understand.”

OUR PRAYER CONTINUES