2 Corinthians 8:1-9, Psalm 146:2, 5-9, Matthew 5:43-48

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

2 Corinthians 8:1-9, Psalm 146:2, 5-9, 

Matthew 5:43-48

2 Corinthians 8:1-9

My Beloved, very often it is those with the least who are open to giving the most. They do so generously and without any prompting. Their own hardships make them sensitive to the needs of those who like themselves suffer deprivation.

It is those with means who are often greedy and acquisitive. They hoard and worry that should they give, they may not have enough for themselves. Like those who stored the manna despite being assured that they would receive it each morning, only to find that it had spoiled and was filled with worms. Let us imitate the Christians in the Churches in Macedonia whom Paul praises so eloquently by giving freely for we ourselves have received all as a free gift from You.

You are the true Giver and we in turn are called to imitate You. The generosity of the poor should stir up in us a sense of gratitude and prompt us to also share what we have received.

Psalm 146:2, 5-9

My Beloved, our heart should sing a song of thanksgiving the live long day because we have been saved by You. The God of all creation is our Father, You His Son are our Savior and the Holy Spirit enables us to be pleasing to God in all things. 

You are faithful and loving, Your hands are always open pouring Your gifts upon us freely and magnanimously. You set us free from the slavery of sin, You heal our wounds in mind, body and spirit and make us whole. You feed and protect us, You watch over us and enable us to live holy lives pleasing to God. We receive all from You may we in turn give as we have been given, with open, loving and generous hearts.

Matthew 5:43-48

My Beloved, it is precisely because I am Your follower and disciple that am invited into a relationship with God. He is our Father and we are called to be righteous and just like Him.

We do not live nor are we guided by the principles of the world which calls for justice commensurate to the crime. Rather, we are called to repay hatred with love, we are called to pray for those who plot evil against us and persecute us. Why? Because we are all children of the same Father and He loves us all the same.

We are not to be selective about whom we love, rather we must look at every man, woman and child as our brother and sister and treat all with the same respect and dignity that we demand for ourselves.

Truly the ways of God are not the ways of the world.