Will you not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Psalm 85:6
“When we think of ourselves, we are perturbed and filled with salutary sadness. And when we think of the Lord, we are revived to find consolation in the joy of the Holy Spirit. From the first we derive fear and humility, from the second hope and love.”
Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) in Sermons 5 as recounted Milton Walsh in Witness of the Saints: Patristic Readings in the Liturgy of the Hours (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2012) 539.
Soon everyone will be talking about their resolutions for the new year. I want to encourage you to change the narrative from resolutions to revival.
As Bernard rightly notes, “when we think of ourselves, we are perturbed and filled with salutary sadness.” We will have regret and want something more.
This leads people to a cycle of making resolutions, which often fall by the wayside in days or weeks. So, what should we do and how does this relate to generosity?
Bernard keenly says to think of the Lord. Focus on Him. By the power of the Holy Spirit you will be revived, you will move from fear and humility to hope and love.
This hope and love then comes into view as generosity. We live differently because we have been revived. We know we are loved and cared for so we show that love and care to others.
If you want to grow in generosity in 2024, if you want to abandon the making of resolutions and get revived, then block more time to think about the Lord.