That we will be talking about generosity for the next three weeks after a couple of weeks of extreme neediness is not lost on me. As I have turned my attention to our subject, I feel like one who has been bathed and marinated in generosity. My family is blessed beyond measure, and our hearts are full of gratitude for the overwhelming outpouring of love during the time of my father’s convalescence and death. Cards, notes, texts, phone calls, food, flowers—so many people I have yet to thank keep popping into my head. Words are too cheap to express how thankful all of Daddy’s family are to the folk at St. Patrick for doing a lot of heavy lifting during this time and for giving us space to be present and remember. A priceless gift.
One of the marks of discipleship—that is, a disciple that loves God, loves people and loves life—is and must be a life of generosity. We exist in a playground of good things because at the center of the Holy Trinity is generosity—a God who lavishes his people with good things and then, when it was defiled and broken by sin, gave himself to save it. God is the most generous, and if there is one theme playing in the Bible from the first promise to Abraham, to the cross, and until Jesus comes back, it is this: the kingdom Jesus is building is founded on deep generosity.
Alas, we do not come out of the womb generous; rather, generosity is a work of God’s grace in our lives, as we live more and more into the reality of God’s grace to us. We are going to be talking about it for a few weeks because history suggests that this virtue is hard won and joy is on the other side of death. But we best get with it, and in our generosity bring the music and dance of another world into time and space. I want more of that!
A reminder, Sunday School starts back this week. There is something for everyone! Check the website for the different ways you can get your family involved.