Thursday June 18, 2003 - 11th week OT

“Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully.”

These ancient and time honored words surely express some great spiritual truth, or do they merely attest to the fact that Paul was feeling the pinch? I think he was trying to minister unto the Corinthians and they were listenign to all Gospel's, the 'superapostles', and claiming to live in the light when in fact they were not supporting the work of the Church as fully as they were expecting to participate in it, or to reap it's benefits. So here is a first model of the need to fully support the ministers in the work you desire for them to do, or the work which is done in God's name, called by the Church.

But too, the express the truth of parsimony. Many people don't give of themselves thougthfully, and don't get very much back either. A part of living well is being generous with your time, your talents and your treasure. "Ít's good to give God credit, but he needs cash too."

Paul admonishes the faithful of Córinth to be abundant in love. The community in Macedonia has been gracious and generous in thier loving acts which have supported Paul to come to Corinth and work with the community here. Now he is admonishing the Corinthians to adhere to that same spirit of overflowing, abundant love which is witnessed in the acts of Jesus, God, and true Christians. The spirit of poverty is the spirit of giving what you have for the welfare of others, in the spirit of community in Christ.
Continuing in the theme of abundant and overflowing love, Matthew writes of Jesus’ saying to love in overflowing abundance, and to be perfect as the heavenly father is perfect.
Realistically, we are also called to dwell on the abundant love of God, and we can meditate on God’s love in our lives as we go throughout each day and face the varied struggles of our lives. Dwelling on the power of Divine Love can dissolve many of life’s ills and problems. This is what we are called to do throughout each day, meeting the challenges of daily life. We call upon Divine Love.
Practical ways of doing this are simply by speaking words of love. The power of words spoken in love can undo the power of words spoken in hate or in anger.
I know a music teacher who does such beautiful work with children. One of the things she does with them, is that she has them envision a circle in front of them, and then they envision the most beautiful music they can possibly imagine, right inside that circle. And then, they step into that circle with that most beautiful music, and they sing from that perspective.
That is what living in love is like. It is a conscious daily choice, and it is work. One minister I have listened to speaks of the ‘çharmed circle of God’s Divine Love’. Stepping into the circle of God’s divine love is a powerful envisioning of a spiritual reality, and it is a conscious way to do that to which the Scriptures attest.
We are called to live in love, and that is a difficult proposition at times. But we must make it so through our conscious choices if we intend to live as Christ.