OPENING PRAYER. . .Loving God, Creator of all that is, here I am--today in this place that you have given me, with all the senses you have given me. Help me to use them to experience you on a deeper level. May I experience you all around me, open me to know more of your ways and know that your goodness surrounds me. Thank you for this time to be with you, to be still and to just listen. Amen
Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” Luke 6:36-38 Message
CONSIDER: Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and it will be given to you. We have many sayings that are similar to what this Gospel lesson teaches us. "What goes around comes around. You reap what you sow". People who give do receive--and usually way beyond their dreams--but it's because God is good. Whatever we give, we are taking what God has given and THEN giving of our lives as God wants us to do. Others many times respond to generosity with generosity of their own.
SO WHAT: God is never outdone in generosity. We can never outgive God! In giving us God's Son, God has given us EVERYTHING! This Gospel lesson suggests that we can practice generosity by stopping our negative behavior towards others. "Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier." Human life is not so much a calculation of cost and benefit as it is a gift that is freely received and freely given as God gives gifts to us.
- Do I require being noticed or thanked in order to be generous to others?
- How can I be more generous with the blessings I receive?
- Try doing 5 random acts of kindness this week to express my gratitude for my blessings.
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