Daily Readings - Thu Aug 10 2023
2 Corinthians
6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:9As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.10Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
John
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of generosity, self-sacrifice, and the transformative power of faith. In the first reading from 2 Corinthians, St. Paul encourages the early Christian community to embrace cheerful and generous giving. He reminds them that God blesses those who give with an open heart, not out of obligation or sadness, but with joy and trust in His providence. This passage emphasizes that our generosity is not just about material resources but also about the disposition of our hearts. When we give freely and joyfully, God multiplies our efforts, enabling us to bear fruit in every good work.
In the Gospel, Jesus uses the vivid metaphor of the grain of wheat to teach about the necessity of self-sacrifice. He says, "Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it yields much fruit." This is a profound lesson about the nature of Christian life. True greatness is not found in clinging to our lives as we know them but in surrendering them for the sake of others. Jesus is not speaking of physical death but of a spiritual dying to oneself—letting go of selfish desires, pride, and the fear of loss. When we imitate Christ in this self-giving love, we open ourselves to the possibility of bearing fruit that endures beyond this life.
Both readings are deeply connected, as they call us to live lives of radical generosity and self-sacrifice. In 2 Corinthians, we see the fruitfulness that flows from cheerful giving, while in John’s Gospel, we are reminded that this fruitfulness is only possible when we are willing to die to ourselves. In our daily lives, this means embracing a spirit of detachment and trust. We are called to let go of our need to control or hoard, whether it be time, resources, or even our own lives. When we do so, we become like the grain of wheat that falls to the ground, trusting that God will bring forth a harvest of love, mercy, and grace. Let us pray for the courage to live this way, knowing that true life comes from following Christ, who gave everything for us.