Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18
“When you sit down to eat, pray. When you eat bread, do so thanking Him for being so generous to you. If you drink wine, be mindful of Him who has given it to you for your pleasure and as a relief in sickness. When you dress, thank Him for His kindness in providing you with clothes. When you look at the sky and the beauty of the stars, throw yourself at God’s feet and adore Him who in His wisdom has arranged things in this way. Similarly, when the sun goes down and when it rises, when you are asleep or awake, give thanks to God, who created and arranged all things for your benefit, to have you know, love and praise their Creator.”
Basil of Caesarea (c. 329-379) in Homily V. In martyrem Julittam. The new header photo is a shot of Bear Creek in Lakewood, Colorado, near our son’s apartment. Sammy is blessed with a beautiful trail on which to walk his dog, Hope St. Teresa.
For the next month leading up to Lent, we will locate kindness and generosity in the writings of the early church. I start with Basil of Caesarea as he is otherwise known as Basil the Great for his prolific writing coupled with care for poor.
Basil had a deep faith and lived it out with humble service. He’s was one of the Cappadocian Fathers and one of the four doctors of the Eastern Church. How did he have great impact in unleashing kind and generous disciples in his day?
He taught everyone to take a posture of dependence and gratitude to God for His generosity and kindness. Let’s try it. At key times in the day, stop to reflect with gratitude for God’s kindness and generosity toward you.
As you think about Lent, which starts next month, perhaps at the divine hours: 6am, 9am, 12noon, 3pm, 6pm, 9pm and 12midnight (or when you go to bed), consider setting an alarm on your phone to pause to give thanks.
Basil teaches us a keen insight for growing as kind and generous disciples of Jesus Christ. Pause to ponder God’s kindness and generosity with thanksgiving throughout each day. It just may transform you into a kind a generous person.