Blueprint for Catholic Living: Part 1, Laying the Foundation
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God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work. As it is written,
“He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures for ever.”
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your resources and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God; for the rendering of this service not only supplies the wants of the saints but also overflows in many thanksgivings to God.
2 Corinthians 9:8–12
The reason many fail to witness the truth of God’s love effectively is because they draw from the wrong source. When we try to love others as the world defines love, we will fall short. But when we draw from the depths of God’s abundant and overflowing grace, we cannot help but overflow in the lives of others. There is no good word for blessing others that we cannot speak, no good work in God’s name that we cannot do, when we allow the Divine supplier of all good things to pour them into our lives. As we freely receive, so we can freely give.
Our generosity in Christ takes many forms: kind words spoken to hurting hearts; sacrificial works of charity to those who lack the basics of life; humble prayers on behalf of the lost; and a life of thanksgiving that stands as an example to all. God desires to pour his grace into our lives so that we may in turn do the good works he has created us to accomplish in his name (Eph 2:10). The ultimate goal is a harvest of souls for the Kingdom of God, men and women whose lives are turned around as they experience the joy and generosity of God’s abundance in their lives.
Questions for reflection
How can you grow in trust and generosity as you seek to serve God by serving others?
How are you searching to understand more fully the good works God is calling you to do in his name?
Where have you seen God’s grace manifested in your life in your giving of your time, talent, and treasure to further the kingdom and reach out to the lost?
Praying with Scripture
“Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (Lk 6:38)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
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Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
