God Loves The Generous

𝐍𝐎𝐕. 𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐘 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊 𝐈𝐍 𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈: 𝐑𝐨𝐦 𝟏𝟏: 𝟐𝟗-𝟑𝟔

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦: 𝐏𝐬𝐚 𝟔𝟗: 𝟑𝟎-𝟑𝟏, 𝟑𝟑-𝟑𝟒, 𝟑𝟔 “𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐞.”

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋: 𝐋𝐊 𝟏𝟒:𝟏𝟐-𝟏𝟒

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞: “𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐭, 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝.” (𝐯𝐯.𝟏𝟑-𝟏𝟒) 

          We often hear people say that it’s better to give than to receive especially when they feel a sense of joy when giving gifts to friends, relatives and to social causes. It may seem secular to some but this expression is very biblical with no less than St. Paul saying in 𝐀𝐜 𝟐𝟎:𝟑𝟓 quoted Our Lord Jesus Christ as saying “𝑰𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆.”        

         Though we as a people regardless of race, color and creed are basically helpful to those in need, the motives behind our being generous differ. Giving may be innate to some but this is not always the case.

         Some of us give out of a sense of duty, others are moved to give because it gives them a feeling of being superior while others are motivated by self-interest. Whatever our motives are, we must spend some time to dwell on what moves us to give because to give or to extend help to those in need especially the poor must be borne out of love flowing from our hearts.

         Christian generosity must be premised on the condition of our hearts that feel mercy and compassion for the poor driven only by the thought that our generosity is our response to the Grace of God who loved us first and who by his passion, death and resurrection gave us a perfect example of what it takes to give.

         There are at least four points that I would like to emphasize with regards to generosity as a virtue that we need to acquire for ourselves. Generosity means giving cheerfully because God loves cheerful givers (𝟐 𝐂𝐨𝐫 𝟗:𝟕). Our giving should be from love and generosity and not from a guilty conscience.

         The second point is generosity means giving enthusiastically. In today’s modern age, we are familiar with buttons that we press to test if our gadgets are working properly. God also has a quick test button to measure the level of our commitment – that is our wallets. Generous people aren’t necessarily faithful to God. But faithful people are always generous.

         Third point is that generosity flows out of concern for those in need. Reluctant giving reflects a lack of concern for people. When giving, let us focus our concern on the needy and I assure that you will all be motivated to give.

         The fourth and last point is that generosity takes preparation. Part of the Jewish law was for the people in the time of Jesus to leave the edges of their fields unharvested so that it would provide food for travelers and the poor. It is easy to ignore the poor or forget about those who have less than we do. But God wants us to be generous especially to the poor.

         Some of us balk when there is talk of dipping into our pockets to finance an outreach project, a soup kitchen, or a medical-dental mission. Others simply look elsewhere when the love offering baskets are being passed around in the church.

         And Jesus tired from the day spent in preaching and healing will never refuse an invitation to dinner but in this Gospel passage he lectures his host on who he should or should not invite to dinner the next time around. In very particular terms, Jesus is reminding us not to invite those with the capacity to repay but to invite “𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅.” (𝒗.13-14)        

         In other words, we should not expect any reward or recompense in exchange for what we give. This reminder from Jesus is not without basis because what we give is not ours in the first place because we own nothing of what we have and possess.

         The Lord tells us in 𝑷𝒔𝒂 24:1 “𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒓𝒅’𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕.” Again, he says in 𝑷𝒔𝒂 50:12 “𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕.” This shows that we are mere trustees or stewards. We were created simply to manage what God has entrusted us with.

        As stewards, 𝐋𝐤 𝟏𝟐:𝟒𝟔 should serve as a reminder for those of us who abuse the authority entrusted to us. On the other hand, 𝐌𝐭 𝟐𝟓:𝟏𝟗-𝟐𝟑 should provide us with an inspiration on how Our God deals with those who are faithful to him.

         There was a time in my early years in the renewal that I give a check instead of cash to our community’s projects and or encounter programs. Why? Not because of the need to account for the money disbursed but because I want the recipients to see my name on the check. I give because I wanted to be recognized for my generosity and I haven’t the slightest idea I was only making a fool of myself in God’s eyes.

         We cannot buy spiritual favors from God. In the same way, we cannot pay our way to heaven which means that the Grace we receive is an initiative of God and not because of our generosity towards others no matter the good these may bring. Without our asking for it, God gave his only begotten Son to be the ransom for many and because of this action, God practically made us into his prized possession (𝐓𝐢 𝟐:𝟏𝟒) and from whom we continue to receive everything that we need in life (𝐍𝐞𝐡 𝟗:𝟐𝟎). 

         Jesus tells us 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒍𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅.” In other words, we are to give to those who cannot reciprocate our generosity. Since Christian generosity is a reflection of the character of Our Lord in us, we are thus mandated to give on account of God’s love that dwells in us.

         And Jesus assures us that when we give without expecting any reward or recompense, our reward will come at the proper time when we receive our invitation to the wedding feast.

        As we cannot apportion our salvation by our own effort and thus are dependent on God’s generosity, we must go through life with utmost confidence that Our God will reward those who give as an expression of God’s Will for us to be clothed ourselves with the image of Christ in us.

        The Catholic Church doesn’t teach Tithing per se. What the Church recommends is seen in 𝐂𝐂𝐂 𝟐𝟎𝟒𝟑  which says “𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡, 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬.”          

        And the Church’s 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐰 𝐍𝐨. 𝟐𝟐𝟐  states that: “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩, 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝, 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬.”       

        As we reflect on the teachings of the Church, we will readily appreciate the reason why our Church doesn’t teach about Tithing and it is because our giving cannot and should not be measured in percentages. In fact, if we are to digest what the CCC says “𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬” and what the Canon Law 222 referred to as “𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬” these simply mean that we are to give back to God what is God’s.

        In other words, this Gospel passage is teaching us to be honest with ourselves and if we believe that everything here on earth is owned by Our God, then it presupposes that we can give back to him what is His in the first place. And payback time is not here and now but when we are finally made to account how well we have managed what God has entrusted to us. (𝘌𝘥 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺 – 𝘕𝘰𝘷. 3, 2025)