Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously, according to your means.
Sirach 35:12 — from the Old Testament reading for May 30.
How much has God given to us? How generous has God been?
Yes, in Jesus, God died for us, but to do that he also had to be born for us and to live for us. Included in the ministry that was His earthly life was praying for us. Sitting with John Chapter 17 for last week’s post reminded me of this. Even so, that chapter presents Jesus’ offering of prayers for the members of His spiritual family as a past event. Yet in the following New Testament, verses, we are assured that he still intercedes for us:
Romans 8:34
1 John 2:1
Hebrews 7:25
He not only continues to pray with and for us, but he continues to offer himself to us in a form our senses can perceive, though those very same senses don’t see, don’t touch, and don’t take Him in — even as they do. He offers Himself in what we perceive as bread and wine because offering Himself in this way is consistent with His nature that is simultaneously intimate and transcendent. He is more than we can see, yet He wants us to hold Him, to take Him in. He gave His life so we can do this again and again when we receive the Eucharist. Check out this post from April 23, 2023 for a deeper look at the meaning of the Eucharist.
I just skimmed that post again. What it says to me now is that Jesus offers Himself—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in bread and wine, and we receive the gifts of this offering by trusting in their presence and by being open to and grateful for them. We express this trust, openness, and gratitude in one way by preparing ourselves with humility to receive and in presenting ourselves to receive the Eucharist — offering ourselves in return, in other words.
But Sirach 35:12 tells me that my offering is not meant to stop with my reception of the Eucharist. Rather, Jesus offers me Himself in the Eucharist so I can give myself completely to Him in worship and in my neighbor. Do I give my life to Him completely as He gave—and gives—His life to and for me? Not yet. But I’m grateful that knowing I couldn’t do it on my own, He gave — and gives me—what I need to be able to give all to Him.
Lord, help me to trust in and find strength in the gift of all of Yourself that You give to me. Amen,
The Bible.The New American Bible Revised Edition, Kindle edition, Fairbrother, 2011.
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. “Sunday July, 2 2023: Readings at Mass.” The New American Bible, 2001. Universalis for Windows, Version 2.179, Universalis Publishing Ltd., 26 Feb. 2023, https://universalis.com/n-app-windows.htm
Sitting with the Sacred 