Generosity is at the heart of the readings for today. Moses urges the people of God to give liberally and be ungrudging when a member of the community is in need. They should lend willingly, with an open hand, and not worry about the year of remission, when debts would be canceled. In a similar way, Paul commends the generosity of the churches of Macedonia during a time of great need. He invites the Corinthian Christians to be equally generous. The Macedonians’ generosity is even more amazing because it is the “overflow” of both their abundant joy and their extreme poverty. This pairing of joy and poverty seems to be an unlikely combination, but it is the witness of the Macedonians.
This kind of generosity is more than civic-minded charity. It is more than a calculated judgment about how much we can “afford” to give, or what our benefits will be. The Macedonians’ generosity has everything to do with being people who know Jesus and share his love with others. The Son of God became poor for us, accepting the limitations of human life in the world and finally death on the cross. His ultimate sacrifice was for us, for our salvation, so that by his poverty we might become rich in God’s life. The Macedonian Christians have known Jesus’ generosity in their own lives, and now they live generously, beyond their means. It costs everything. First they gave themselves to God, and now they give themselves to others in a time of need. Instead of being daunted by the scarcity they find in their own situation, their joy overflows in abundance to help others. They know their Lord as they live out his generosity in their own lives, and their faith makes this possible.
The power of faith is also seen in Jesus’ healings. Both the BCP and the RCL present the healing of Jairus’ little daughter. The RCL also presents the healing of the woman who had suffered from hemorrhages, and “endured much under many physicians” for many years. In both cases, the healing is about faith. Jairus, a leader of the synagogue, believes that Jesus can help. He falls at Jesus’ feet and begs him to lay his hands on the little girl and heal her. Jairus’ persistent faith may be contrasted with the people at his house who make a commotion and even laugh at Jesus. Unlike this crowd, the girl’s father has faith, and his prayers are answered by her recovery.
We’re called to know Jesus’ presence by faith, and live his generosity in our own lives. We’re called to live beyond ourselves, and not calculate how we may benefit or be paid back for our service. Our joy can overflow in abundant love as we care for others and respond to them.
Look It Up
What guidance and warnings does the New Testament provide for spending? Consider the widow who donated her “mite,” Zaccheus, the prodigal son and his father, Ananias and Sapphira.
Think About It
How does your spending reflect your values? What priorities or values are reflected by the register where you record your checks?
Next Sunday
The Fifth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 9B), July 9, 2006
BCP: Ezek. 2:1-7; Psalm 123; 2 Cor. 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-6
RCL: 2 Sam. 5:1-5, 9-10 or Ezek. 2:1-5; Psalm 48 or 123; 2 Cor. 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13
