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TODAY’S WORD…

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For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ,

that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor,

so that by His poverty you might become rich.

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– 2 Corinthians 8:9 (NRSV)

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REFLECTION…

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Jesus Christ, in his Incarnation and throughout His life,

gave us a wonderful example of generosity and detachment.

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Our Lord, because He is God, was in need of nothing;

but by becoming man He voluntarily despoiled Himself of the splendour of His divinity

and lived on earth as a poor man

– from His birth in poverty in Bethlehem

to His death on the cross;

sometimes He did not even have the bare necessities of life.

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The knowledge of God and godliness,

liberation from sin,

justification,

sanctification,

the countless good things which He has bestowed on us

and will bestow on us in the future

– all those things have accrued to us

through Jesus’ poverty,

through His becoming human and suffering what He suffered.

And yet, unlike us, He did not deserve punishment and suffering. (Cf. St. John Chrysostom. Hom. on 2 Cor.", 17)

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Jesus’ example

is a divine call to all Christians to be outstanding in love and charity;

to gladly give of self to those in need.

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Jesus did it all for us

out of His great love for us.

Let us follow His example as we obey His commandment

and love one another

just as He loved us.

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QUOTE…

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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.

Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.”

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– Our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 13:34)

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, my Saviour, I am so undeserving of Your generous love.

Teach me, Lord, to give of myself like You did.

In Your Name I pray. Amen.

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