THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER

This week I received a special gift—a big kiss from our two-year-old grandson.  Out of the blue and without prompting he just landed that six-million-dollar kiss on my chubby cheek.  At that moment I felt like a six-million-dollar grandpa!  Even though he has kissed me before, there is something different and sweet about voluntary and spontaneous expression of love.  It is special—and sacred—by virtue of the fact that it is so pure and natural.  It is given without thinking.

That is how God loves us.  When He gives, He does not think, “When was the last time I gave to you?”  And when He gives, He does not think, “How much should I give you?”  When He gives, He gives from the abundance of His riches in glory; He gives without thinking!  Or, in the words of St. Paul in Ephesians 1:3, He “has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.”  Please underline that that word, “every” because that word is important.  God does not bless with some spiritual blessings; no, He blesses us with every spiritual blessing.  God does not hold back; He just gives.

When it comes to giving, we usually hold back.  Contrary to Ananias and Saphira, who lied to Peter and the Holy Spirit to receive the recognition they desired, we do not lie.  We just do not give—without thinking!  Like a life-long habit, we just do not give—or hold back—without giving much thought to it.  Perhaps the reason we do not think when we hold back is because we just don’t want to think.

I would like to thank you for your faithful giving.  I just received a report from our deacon that despite the pandemic, your giving has remained constant.  We have been amply supplied.  Not only can we still operate like before, we can also share God’s abundant blessings with those in need.  Thank you for giving without thinking!  

Pastor Paul