Generous

Pastor’s Epistle—December, A.D. 2016 A

Christianity is first and foremost a life of generosity. Our doctrines, traditions, liturgies, theologies, historical confessions, social programs: these are all wonderful things, but without a stalwart foundation of generosity to undergird and uphold them, the whole ecclesial edifice collapses under its own weight. Simply put, if we are not generous, we are not Christian.

In this, at least, the culture at large seems to have gotten the holidays right. It is indeed the season of giving—though we would be fools to reduce this truth to the mere buying of as many useless hunks of plastic as possible. During the holidays, food and drink and gifts flow freely, as well they ought. But a Christian must first and foremost be generous to God and to our neighbor in need; these remain our eternal priorities.

We must be generous to God with our time and our attention. We must pray; Jesus makes it clear that this is nonnegotiable. We needn’t be flowery or long winded in prayer. In fact, Jesus discourages this. Instead, we must turn to God with the heart of a child, simple and humble, trusting in Him as our Father. We lift up to Him our joys and our sorrows, our confessions and thanksgivings, our petitions and our praise. And then we turn to the pages of Holy Scripture to hear Him speak to us in reply. At the very least, such reading and prayer should mark our rising in the morning and our devotions in the evening.

Once a week, on Sundays (and sometimes Wednesdays as well) we gather together, to join our prayer with those of the whole Church. We pray as a family, read as a family, worship as a family, all of us one in Christ Jesus our head. And then we receive the Sacraments: the gift of Absolution; the Body and Blood of our Lord. Giving our time to God in daily devotion and weekly worship is not a zero sum game. It’s not like water, with a fixed volume, which we must ration. Rather our devotion to God is like fire: the more we feed it, the more we share it, the more gloriously it blazes forth in light and warmth for all.

Generosity is the heart of God’s Word. Ours is the God Who poured out Himself in Creation, poured out His life from the Cross, poured out forgiveness upon the unforgiveable and eternal life upon the damnable. And He would have us do the same! We are given many gifts, so that we may use them for the good of our neighbor and our community. And the more we share them—the more we offer our time, talents, and treasures to those in need, both strangers and loved ones—the more God’s own Spirit will swell up within us.

Let’s be honest. How many more toys do our children really need? How many new gifts, indeed, do we need for ourselves? So much of it ends up useless clutter, gathering dust in the garage. Instead let us focus on gifts that will do the most good: on heartfelt reminders of our love; in generosity offered to local food banks, and to those charities that do the most good overseas. Give your children the gifts of God’s Word and your own example of love toward your neighbors—for indeed these are inseparable. There is no truth without love, and no love without truth.

Of course, Jesus Christ came to save sinners. And in the words of St Paul, I am their chief. I confess to you, my brothers and sisters, that I do not live generously. I do not give as I ought; I do not put love of God and needs of neighbor first. I am most often prideful, selfish, slothful, and addicted to material things. God have mercy. Yet this is Advent, the time of new beginnings. Christ freely offers to us the forgiveness of sins, the lifting of burdens, and the new life of Baptism. It is the generosity of our Lord that frees us to be generous in return; it is His nobility that makes us noble.

Feed the hungry. Clothe the naked. Shelter the traveler. Heal the sick. Free the imprisoned. Forgive, teach, comfort, and pray. Do this, and we shall show the world the generosity of Jesus Christ. Do this, and we shall truly be prepared to greet the King.

In Jesus. Amen.