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. (2 Corinthians 8:9 nrsv)

This passage from 2 Corinthians 8:1–10 has always made a deep impression on me. Paul appeals to the Corinthian church to honor their promise to contribute for the relief of the poor Christians in Jerusalem. The rhetoric is dazzling. In the short space of 8:1–9, Paul densely packs five uses of the word “grace.” The initiative shown by the Macedonian church (who, without so many words, have outdone the Corinthians) is a sign of grace of God (8.1). Indeed, they beg for the privilege (i.e. grace) to share in the effort (8.4). Paul cajoles, arouses a sense of competition, and encourages.

This text impresses me as difficult. It is easier to see its difficulty in times of economic downturn and uncertainty. It is natural that giving to charitable causes or support for foreign aid decreases, as there is less to give. What is worrying is whether harder times also make people less generous, more inward looking, and less sympathetic. However, it is not just a matter of money. Time and attention to others and the community’s needs can be taxing on one’s own energy and mental resources, whether boom or bust. The more I think of what this text challenges me to do, the more difficult I find it.

The height of Paul’s argument is the generous act (i.e. grace) of Jesus. This gracious act is extreme; Jesus even lost his life. This impresses me as a singularly ineffective argument, as it is asking for an unreasonable sacrifice. The argument can be effective only if I believe that Jesus is revealing the way of the Creator of the world, showing us the fabric out of which the universe is made, and therefore in this extreme act the secret of life is revealed. Only then can I make sense of why it is also grace that we can imitate (which the Corinthians and Macedonians are asked to do) by way of giving. However, this motivation alone may not be sufficient to make us behave generously. When we feel poverty stricken, we will focus on self-preservation and find it hard to give. The grace of Jesus can induce gracious acts on our part because, all of a sudden, we realize we may have more than we think. We are indeed rich, at least richer than we are led to believe.

O God, teach us that it is a privilege to give, grant us joy in giving, inspire us with creativity to give within and even beyond our ability, so that in giving we grow increasingly like your Son our Lord. Amen.

Contributed by Hon-Wai
Monday August 20, 2012
Liturgical Year B: Week 39
Liturgical Color: Green
Sunday Gospel reading:
Lectionary 20 (Proper 15)
Twelveth Sunday after Pentecost