11/29/2018 2 Comments "Command those who are rich..."What and how are we laying a foundation for eternal life? "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." St. Paul to Timothy (I Tim. 6:17-19 NKJV)
Here are a couple reflections on today's epistle reading:
St. Gregory the Theologian sums it all up well: "There is one innate and trusty wealth: to use one’s substance on God and on the poor." *www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats
2 Comments
11/29/2018 07:56:53 pm
Well spoken. Thank you for the challenge. It's easy to feel "off the hook" for this verse when one lives paycheck to paycheck, but it is true that we still have much to give, even if it is cooked food, artwork, babysitting, or companionship rather than much money.
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The Second Liturgy
11/29/2018 08:10:32 pm
Yes! There are many creative ways to share ourselves. Often it's more of a sacrifice to give our time and talents (and the depths of our true self) than it is to make a financial donation or offload our stuff. I like what St. Gregory of Nyssa said, "Give a loaf of bread yourself; someone else can give a cup of wine, and another clothes. In this way, you can relieve one man’s poverty by your joint effort." We could add a hug, a smile, an encouraging word, a job lead, transportation, prayers, friendship, and much more to this list. Thanks for your comment!
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