Meditations

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

“An ancient tradition tells of our Lord’s appearing to Jerome. It seems that Jesus asked him: Jerome, what have you to offer me? The saint is said to have replied: I can offer you my writings, Lord. Christ indicated that this was not sufficient. What can I offer you then … my life of mortification? The Lord again responded: No, that is not enough either. Jerome finally asked very pointedly: Lord, what then is left for me to offer you? Christ’s immediate answer was: You can offer me your sins Jerome.

It is frequently difficult for us to recognize our own sins and weaknesses for what they truly are, but with the help of Jesus, who continues to look upon us with affection, we can admit our faults, our weaknesses and omissions with courage and brutal sincerity if need be. Knowing that sin separates us from God and our fellow men, we need to make an effort not to cover up anything or cushion the account of our personal sins with excuses.

Such subterfuges only serve to impede the fervent contemplative live our Lord desires for us in the midst of our daily duties. Jesus wants us to entrust our sins and their consequences to Him so that He may relieve us of them. In exchange for our heartfelt contrition, Jesus offers us the peace and happiness of drinking from the source of eternal life.”

Jerome of Stridon (c. 347-420) as cited by Fulton J. Sheen in “The Cries of Jesus from the Cross: An Anthology” and recounted by Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 327-328.

Jerome was one of the four doctors or fathers of the Western Church and the most learned of all.

And notice the greatest gift or act of generosity he could give to Jesus was not his writings or his life of piety and mortification, but rather, His sins. Christ can’t have His way in our lives to help us conform to the image of Christ if we do not do this.

It matches everything we have learned about generosity over the years, if you really think about it.

Christ cares not how much we give (that’s what the world looks at). He cares what we hold back and what that says about our hearts. It reveals the sin of disobedience to His command not to store up treasures on earth and shows our misplaced trust.

That’s only one sin that comes to mind linked to generosity. Consider a few others.

We may harbor pride, thinking we earned the resources we possess when God gave us the ability to produce that wealth. Or we may be guilty of greed, thinking that we need money to sustain us for the remainder of our lives.

Sit with Jesus today. Ask Him to bring to mind your sins, specifically the ones related to money. Give them Jesus.

Even as our salvation starts with confessing our sins to God, our sanctification comes into view as the process of realizing old ways or worldly patterns of living that need to go to position us to grow in generosity. Do you want this? I hope so.

Giving your sins related to money (or anything else) to Jesus emerges as the best gift you can give this Christmas.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and His disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.”

“Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

Then He called the bridegroom aside and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which He revealed His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. John 2:1-11

“Whenever our family or the apostolic works we collaborate or are in need we should not hesitate to seek the help of the Lord. We must always recall that the first miracle, the one Mary instigates at the wedding in Cana, comes about in order to help a newlywed couple…

The Lord will not withhold His protection either, as long as we do all within our power like the good servants of Cana, who fill the water jugs to the brim. They do all they can, humanly speaking, before the Lord works the miracle on the basis of their best efforts.

Whenever we find ourselves in straitened circumstances the following consideration can do much for our peace of mind. Our financial situation may be as tight as it has ever been. But we don’t lose our peace. We’re quite sure that God, my Father, will settle the whole business…

I want, Lord, to abandon the care of all my affairs into your generous hands… Hear those words now as in Cana: “They have none!” I believe in You. I hope in You. I love You, Jesus. I want nothing for myself: it’s for them.”

Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975) in The Forge (Strongsville: Scepter, 2002) 807.

We serve a wonderful Lord that helps us in our times of need. He rarely, however, does it in a predictable manner. Imagine that the ceremonial washing pots became the basins for the best wine at the wedding feast!

If you find yourself in hard times, do what Mary did. Ask Jesus for help and tell others to do whatever He says. Good things will happen. If he says to do something crazy like fill jars to the brim with water, do it.

Generosity comes into view as being like Mary who called to Jesus for help, or being like the servants who did not flinch but filled the jars all up with water. Each of these characters served not for themselves but for others.

If today’s post touched you. Read Josemaría’s prayer again and pray it: “I want, Lord, to abandon the care of all my affairs into your generous hands… I believe in You. I hope in You. I love You, Jesus. I want nothing for myself: it’s for them.”

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:11-12

“Together with generosity and detachment from material goods, we need to stimulate the practice of these virtues in our dealings with friends. In this way we will secure many blessings for them and their families.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 323.

Today is my birthday. I am 57 and safely home. I pray for another year to simulate people to generosity and detachment. The more I do this the more I am blessed, and the more I spread blessing to an unimaginable number of people.

Here’s where I need your help. It’s not for me, but to extend blessing to underserved language groups, please listen closely.

GTP is working to apply for a major grant but we need to reach 100 monthly givers by 31 December 2024. We still need 48 more. Click here to set it up. Even $5, $10, or any amount per month counts. And for every person who does, a friend will give an extra $100 to GTP. That’s an extra $4,800 over an above the monthly giving.

And how will your monthly giving bless more people? Let me explain.

It will put GTP in position to secure a grant to add up to three more staff members to extend our reach to serve more Indian, Russian, and Korean speaking populations worldwide. Imagine the impact. That’s my birthday wish.

Join the global work. I need your help. Become a monthly giver to GTP. Thanks.

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35

“A work of piety is more useful for the one who practices it than for the one who receives it. The one who does a good deed out of piety receives receives spiritual benefit, while the one who receives merely the material good, receives only temporal profit.”

Thomas Aquinas in Commentary on the Second Letter to the Corinthians.

I’m on my long journey home today. It’s a good day to quote Aquinas. He exegetes “better” in the biblical reference as “more useful” for us. Think about it. Because generosity is a fruit of the Spirit it blesses the ones that produces it by transforming them into conduits of blessing.

And the transformation has eternal implications. It stores up treasures in heaven. For this reason, the profit for the giver far exceeds the gain for the receiver. For Paul, this related to “everything” he did. Everything! He practiced and modeled the words of Jesus. In so doing, it blessed him and changed his world.

That’s why I write these posts. I does not matter to me if thousands read them or no one. I give these thoughts because I get blessed in finding them. Is there someone you should share them with? Someone who you should encourage to subscribe? Share this with them. Urge them to subscribe.

They are free, “more useful,” and … well, in a biblical sense … priceless.

Now concerning the collection for the saints: you should follow the directions I gave to the churches of Galatia. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:1-2

“There will be times in our life in which the Lord encourages us in our generosity to contribute financial assistance – be it great or small – to sustain the church or other good institutions which promote social justice. Possibly we will be called upon to help raise funds for these charitable works. A great many pages from the New Testament make reference to the determination Christ’s disciples showed in acquiring the necessary material goods they would need to spread the gospel.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 321.

Whether I’m serving in the Caribbean or Asia, Latin America or Africa, God’s workers realize they need to help raise funds. When we look at the pages of the NT, we find advice in how to do it. Two thoughts today along these lines.

Firstly, Paul does not beg people, he gives directions. He shows people how to participate in God’s work with what they have. Secondly, Paul teaches stewardship. He tells people to set aside margin to give with intentionality and contribute according to their means.

God’s work calls for funds. They reside in the accounts of the people. Give them directions to release them with intentionality. And most importantly, model the way. People need to see your instructions lived out in your life and example.

Praise God the work in Guyana linked directly to this today. We trained workers to give people the gift of accountability so those they serve respond with the gift of generosity. If you need this kind training, GTP offers it again starting in January 2025. Register here.

Tomorrow we make the long journey home, 24 hours door to door. After walking away from a head-on collision like a scene from Fast & Furious, we can’t wait to get home. Pray us safely to Jamaica (Horace and John), Dominican Republic (Lea) and USA (me). Thanks.

Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?” “Nothing,” they answered. He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. Luke 22:35-36

“While we are living out our mortal life we will need material means to sustain our family and set about the apostolic tasks that the Lord wants us to promote. Economic means are just that – goods – that become an impediment when we seek after them in such a way that we are not able properly to appreciate the supernatural means…

Jesus Himself teaches the disciples the importance of using the human means. Before their first apostolic mission He expressly tells them: Do not take a bag or purse. He leaves them without any material support at all, so that they clearly see that it is He Himself who grants efficacy to their efforts.

They fully comprehend that the cures, conversions, and other miracles they are instrumental in carrying out are not due to their human qualities but to the power of God. Nevertheless, when on a later occasion they are about to set out, He adds to this first indication: But now, let Him who has a purse take it, and likewise a wallet.

Although the supernatural means come first in all our apostolate, the Lord wants us to use the human and financial means within our reach as if the supernatural means did not exist. To fulfill His divine mission, Jesus Himself wanted to depend on human means – a few loaves of bread and fish, a little mud, or the modest support of those pious women who accompanied the Lord on His apostolic journeys.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 319-320.

Thanks for your prayers for our team. As the new header photo illustrates, we are safely in Guyana. I am writing to challenge all readers today to put to work the resources in your stewardship as an instrument because holding on to them can be an impediment to your service.

This may sound harsh but there’s no middle ground with Jesus. He sends us out with nothing to teach us to depend on Him. Then as our stewardship causes resources to come to us, He wants us to put them to work on mission.

Thanks for your prayers for our GTP team in Guyana and for your financial support (click here to give monthly). Your partnership with us through giving is instrumental in multiplying stewards in the hardest and most remote places.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28

“Prayer strengthens us against temptation. The Lord addresses the same words to us as He did to the disciples in Gethsemane. Why do you sleep? Rise up and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. We need to pray always, but there are times when we must intensify our prayer by making an effort to focus our loving attention more fervently, as when family or work-related difficulties loom large or when we are assailed by temptation. Through the union established with the Lord when we pray well, we remain vigilant in the face of adversity. This personal dialogue also helps us to work better, to fulfill our duties to our family and society with more generosity, and to treat others with more consideration and courtesy.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 306.

I’ve experienced consideration and courtesy from fellow believers in Trinidad & Tobago. Praying for the same reception in Guyana. And I am enjoying exploring the connection between prayer, gratitude, and generosity.

Because of what we have in Christ, we need not let anything shake us. I pray you have an unshakable day flowing out of your communion with God. And I pray that you treat people with generosity, consideration, and courtesy.

It’s a busy time of year. We can fall into the trap of taking no time to pray. Then we function according to the flesh, forget the kingdom we are receiving, and fail to live in thankfulness. Everything unravels. Don’t let it happen to you.

I typed everything written above yesterday morning. The only thing I want to add before going to sleep is gratitude to God for helping our GTP team walk away from a head on collision with this car on our final day in Trinidad & Tobago.

Bickram, our driver and host, broke two fingers and has whiplash symptoms along with John as they had seatbelts on in the front of the van.

Horace got many cuts flying from the second row of the van through the front seats to the dashboard. Lea in the third row flew into the front driver seat. And I always walk to the back row of the van for leg room.

I flew all the way to hit my head on the back of the passenger seat suffering a bruise on my ribs and right knee from the flip down seat that was up.

Long story short. Over the next 5 hours, we experienced the consideration and courtesy of two ambulances, the emergency room staff, and even the Hilton people delivered bags of ice to our respective rooms.

I praise God we are alive. We will continue our mission in Guyana with even stronger resolution to serve. Thanks for your prayers.

The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Acts 28:2

“To be happy and serve those around us we need to forget about ourselves and not become excessively concerned about personal matters which are seldom very important. Complete confidence in God is also a necessary condition. Whoever worries to much about his or her personal affairs will not easily find the genuine happiness which causes us to be united to God and to other people.

Our joy will then provide one more opportunity for others to encounter the Lord. Prayer prepares us to be open to the grace of God. With this powerful source of help we can accept any of the difficulties we experience. Whatever is bothering us we leave in God’s hands. Our personal conversation with Christ brings us to be more generous in serving God and others.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 301-302.

When I think of the idea of generosity, it makes no sense unless a person has “complete confidence” in God. We cannot share with others without trusting God to supply for us.

I feel led today to pause to define the term ‘generosity’ for readers who may have joined more recently.

Brace yourselves. Did you know that a non-believer that gives any amount of money – it could be a dollar or a billion dollars – does not, in biblical terms, exhibit generosity. Let me elaborate. A non-believer cannot practice generosity because ἀγαθωσύνη (agathosune) is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

Recall today’s Scripture. Paul is shipwrecked on an island. He experiences the ‘unusual kindness’ of the islanders. I hope you like my island focus these days as I find myself ministering on islands. Today, I am preaching on the island of Trinidad. Did those islanders practice generosity in biblical terms? No.

They did not know Christ, so the Greek word used here is not generosity but philanthropy. Philanthropy is human giving for human benefit. It’s uncommon kindness and exceeds expectations, but it’s not generosity. So, if the rich people of the world, apart from God give with unusual kindness, in biblical terms, they show philanthropy not generosity.

So, why would the biblical writers use different terms and never associate generosity with non-believers?

Generosity implies that a person serves as conduit of blessing from God to people. The reason Christians can give at all times and at all occasions is because God abundantly supplies the resources for their generosity. Abundance is our new operating system or OS. And this stands in contrast to the scarcity mindset or OS.

Brace yourselves again. Humans can only have a scarcity OS because they do not have a connection to the only abundant source. In phone operating system terms, apart from Christ, scarcity is our operating system (think: Android). And when we come to faith we now have a new OS (think: Apple). Biblical instruction teaches us to learn how to use it.

Apart from Christ those with the scarcity OS see themselves as containers and cannot help but be consumed by the cares of this life. That’s why we must have compassion on them. Such a person may be wildly successful, in human terms, and make a lot of money and write big checks, but they do not practice biblical generosity.

Please, I beg of you, watch your language when you use the term. Only link generosity to believers serving as a conduit of divine blessing. Generosity appears as a fruit in our lives when we serve as a conduit or channel of blessing from God to others.

If any of this bothers you, pray for grace. Don’t shoot me, I am just the reporter of biblical truths. Have a personal conversation with Christ about these matters and their implications. I pray that conversation moves to you become more generous.

And I appreciate your prayers for me to serve as a confident and generous conduit of spiritual blessings from the pulpit this morning and then to a group of youth later today. Thanks.

Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Isaiah 42:10

“I so desire, Lord, to travel the length and breadth of the earth preaching your name and planting the hope of your glorious cross in pagan territory. Furthermore, one mission alone would not be enough for me. I would want to spread your gospel throughout the whole world all at once, including the most distant islands. . . Do you know what gives me strength? I am walking for the benefit of a missionary. I believe there is one working far away, on the verge of collapse on account of his apostolic undertakings. To lessen his fatigue, I offer my own to God.”

Terese de Lisieux, Autobiography of a Soul XII, 9.

This post seemed fitting for me as I serve in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Scarborough, Tobago this weekend. It’s how God works. We make ourselves available. He sends us to distant islands. The next thing we know. People report that our presence impacted their lives and caused praise to God to go forth widely.

And I could relate to the source of apostolic strength to which Terese refers. When we empty ourselves for others. God replenishes us. We only get enriched when we empty ourselves. And not only do we find new strength, we lessen the fatigue and strengthen the faith of those we serve. It’s a paradox of generosity, one of many anyway.

While most may never visit Trinidad & Tobago (I know I never thought I would), God sends us out of our comfort zone to deploy our rigor and resources in service to others.

Perhaps you have been invited by your children to help watch your grandchildren 2-3 days a week. This may sap your strength, but it shapes the faith and formation of the future generation. Or maybe you could serve as a mentor. But you feel more frustrated than hopeful about helping an emerging worker. Might God have placed you fill the obvious gaps in their knowledge and experience. Or maybe as a youth, you liked church online. But you get spiritual food in podcasts and don’t engage with a small group or Bible study. Might God want you to pursue community for what you can both give and get.

Where might He be calling you to serve in 2025? If you don’t have clarity, take some time to pray about it this weekend. God may just have an island in store for you to bless people and receive blessing. That’s my testimony.

Here’s an article I contributed to the National Christian Foundation website that I just learned had posted live. Read it here. And stay tuned for another GTP trip report from Trinidad & Tobago by Monday. Read the trip report from this past week in Jamaica here.

When [Jesus] saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36

“As we look around us we realize that there are many people who still do not yet know Christ. May who are baptized live as though Christ had not redeemed them, as if He were not truly present in our midst every day. Many go about their lives like those who drew down the compassion of Jesus, crowds who were bewildered and dejected like sheep without a shepherd. They go on and on, without any specific aim in life, disoriented, and wasting their precious time, since they seem to have no sense of direction. Like the Lord, we too are filled with compassion for those people. Though at times they seem – humanly speaking – happy and successful, they fail in the worst way possible because they do not behave as, nor are they even aware of being, children of God on the journey to eternal home of the Father. We cannot let the eternal salvation of anyone be at risk due to our lack of apostolic spirit.”

Francis Fernandez in In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year, volume 7 (London: Scepter, 1993) 292.

As we move into the Advent season, if you know anyone at risk – harassed and helpless – who you might reach out to at this time. This might be a neighbor or co-worker. Our most generous act this advent may be to invite them to journey with us.

I have done that with Michael (pictured above). We started reading my Advent devotional together. Click here to access it.

Thanks for your prayers. We made it safely from Jamaica to Trinidad. Today we fly across to Tobago for program work. Then back to Tobago at the end of the day. Again, appreciate your prayers as we spread the vision of accountability in the Caribbean.

And as we keep our eyes open for at risk people along the way. When we do this we imitate the good Samaritan.