Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter
We hear the same reading today from the Acts of the Apostles that we heard on Sunday, except with an additional detail. Joseph, called Barnabas, sold a piece of his property and gave the proceeds to the Apostles.
This act of generosity can be encouraging for us as well. Churches often ask a great deal from their members. A pastor may ask for money for a new building project. Those who lead Catholic religious education may ask for someone to give volunteer time. As a monk, I am always surprised by the generosity of the Faithful who support us. We require and are grateful for support from our oblates, alumni, and benefactors. We can’t say thank you enough.
To those of you who give to the Church in any way, thank you for what you’ve done and continue to do. Keep giving what you can. If all you can give is your presence at Sunday Mass as a greeter or lector, then that is more than enough. It’s not easy to give and keep giving. Generosity and kindness can be taken advantage of by some. Goodness still goes a long way in building up the Body of Christ, the Church of our Lord Jesus. The Church is a family of believers first and foremost. We walk the way to Heaven together. We can only be “born from above” if we live by faith in the Church. This is in fulfillment of what Jesus said to Nicodemus. “The Son of Man will be lifted up… so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.”
Reflection Question: Do you find it hard to keep giving or helping when people never seem to stop demanding? Pray for God to renew your spirit with generosity and gratitude.
Reflection by Br. Matthew Marie, OSB
Posted in Article for Easter, Daily Reflections