Manna For The Soul: A Rich Harvest

The WORD In all truth I tell you, unless a wheat grain falls into the earth and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me, must follow me, and my servant will be with me wherever I am. If anyone serves me, my Father will honor him.  (John 12:24-26) In other words God loves a cheerful giver. There are 3 kinds of giving: grudge giving, duty giving and thanks giving. The grudge giver says, "I hate to give." This person gives little, for "the gift without the giver is bare." A duty giver says, "I ought to give." This person gives more, but there is no song in his giving. A thanks giver says, "I want to give." This person gives everything and shows forth the image of God to the world. What kind of giver do we tend to be most of the time? The rabbis have a saying that the best kind of giving is when the giver does not know to whom he is giving and when the receiver does not know from whom he is receiving. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Lawrence who exemplifies the thanks giver. He did not only give his services as a deacon but he gave his life, so he could show forth the image of God to the world.       Fr. Denny Lucas, SVD   A Bee Bg