Daily Readings - Fri Aug 10 2018
2 Corinthians
6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.7Each one must give as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.8And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.9As it is written, "He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
John
24Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.25Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on the themes of generosity, sacrifice, and the transformative power of self-giving love. The Second Reading from 2 Corinthians reminds us that our actions have consequences: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows with blessings shall also reap from blessings.” Paul emphasizes that true giving is not about obligation or sadness but about cheerful generosity. This passage is part of Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians to contribute to the collection for the Jerusalem church, teaching them that God’s grace multiplies our efforts when we give with joy and trust in His providence.
The Gospel from John takes us deeper into the mystery of sacrifice. Jesus says, “Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit.” These words, spoken in the context of His own approaching death, reveal the paradox of Christian life: to gain eternal life, we must let go of our attachment to this world. Jesus is not calling us to hatred of life but to a willingness to surrender our selfish desires for the sake of love. This is the path to true fruitfulness.
Together, these readings remind us that Christian life is rooted in both generosity and sacrifice. Paul calls us to open our hearts and resources to others, trusting that God will abundantly provide for our needs. Jesus invites us to embrace the mystery of self-giving love, knowing that true life comes from surrendering ourselves for the sake of others. In our daily lives, this means being willing to step out of our comfort zones, to share what we have, and to love without counting the cost. Let us ask for the grace to live this way, trusting that our acts of love and sacrifice will bear fruit far beyond what we can imagine.