Sufficientia | Abound in good work

"God can bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." - 2 Cor 9:8

Photo by Egor Myznik on Unsplash

My brothers and sisters, 

Near my community house, there is an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) where people can draw their money without going to a bank. In front of the ATM, there is an old woman with her stuff who is sitting there waiting for people’s generosity after drawing their money. Her life depends on people’s kindness. This old woman catches my attention every time I pass her because she reminds me of people’s relationship with God. Our life depends on God’s Grace and without God, we are nothing. Also, about human’s relationship in this world that we rely on each other.

As Paul reflects the Corinthians that God blessed them abundantly, God also blesses us in all things and all times. We can reflect on our life now, that what we have is from God and God always gives the best thing that we need. Undeniably, besides all the material world that we get in this life, we have Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son. This is a precious gift that we have. We may not have all things but by having Jesus, we are rich in faith, hope and love. Those aspects empower us to get through every situation we deal with. Hence, people who always see God as a guarantee will never lack in life.

Since God has provided such things that we need, God impels us to be generous to one another like what Jesus commands in Luke 10:27, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbour as yourself”. Rethinking of the old woman that I use to see in front of the nearby ATM, and many people who are suffering, you and I could ask, how wide is our love to others as we love ourselves? 

Then Paul reminds us, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously”. This means that what we do will get back to us in return. Often, we are worried if what we give will not generate the same gain from others but indeed, God will measure our sacrifice and give us an indescribable gift.

Reflection on 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 by Fr. Aris Mada, SVD 

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