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Jesus didn't say, I was hungry and you thought about it while you carefully examined your budget for the year and considered what you could give. |
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The Compassion Reflex
I have been writing a lot
about including your giving at the top
of you budget and even about giving
away "found money," but I was reminded the other day about what
Jesus had to say. Jesus said, "I was hungry and you fed me."
Jesus didn't say, I was hungry and you thought about it while you carefully examined your budget for the year and considered what you could give. Jesus saw an immediate need and had compassion. That is how He functioned and that is how we as true Christians should function. I was reminded of this by a homebound member. I usually think of these people as the ones we do things for -- the recipients of our giving. After all, this woman is clearly not rich. And she has health concerns that worry her. Often, as we age and our health problems increase, our thoughts turn inward, as if caring for ourselves takes all of our energy. This delightful woman frankly doesn't even know who I am half of the time I visit. Over Holy Week last spring, I was sitting sharing tea with her when she asked me if I had made it to church on Palm Sunday. "Yes," I said, and she asked me what church I attended. I said, "Pontiac," as that is what the longtime members call the church I pastor, located in the part of town that bears that name. "They can't do the service without me." I said. She looked at me surprised and said, "Oh that's nice." She had no idea I was her pastor. Her mind might not be so good anymore, but her heart is working fine. She called last week to ask if the church was taking up any collection for the people of Liberia. She had seen something on the TV about the plight of the people there and wanted to help. She didn't wait for the church to send out an appeal. She didn't put it on her list of things for next years budget. She reached out and gave. The check she sent was not large. She gave what she could. I am hoping that her generosity will encourage yours and that the money that we send on to the Lutheran Disaster Relief for the people of Liberia will not only reflect her generosity, but all of ours. While we pray for a world where no one goes hungry let us do what we can to make it so. Lord, Copyright (c) 2003, The Rev. Dana Reardon. Used by permission. The Rev. Dana Reardon (Mspastor@aol.com) is pastor at St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Warwick, RI. A lifelong Lutheran, she came to ordained ministry after 21 years in nursing, mostly in pediatric intensive care. She graduated from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in 1998 and served 4 ½ years in Upstate New York before becoming a New Englander. She is still trying to understand the accent. While in the Upstate New York Synod she chaired the Stewardship Team. That began her fascination with what makes stewards -- and more, what makes for generosity. She has three amazing daughters: Pastor Izzo says much of what she knows of life she learned from them.
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