Meditations

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

While this post is admittedly long, and though I have posted excerpts of it, when I found the oration in a book online, I decided to type it out post it as a resource for readers. It’s priceless and my last piece from Gregory of Nazianzus who helped polish the Nicene Creed in Hagia Irene, the room pictured above, exactly 1,642 years ago. Enjoy ‘On the Love of the Poor’.

“Recognize to whom you owe the fact that you exist, that you breathe, that you understand, that you are wise, and, above all, that you know God and hope for the kingdom of heaven and the vision of glory, now darkly and as in a mirror but then with greater fullness and purity. You have been made a child of God, a co-heir with Christ. Where did you get all this and from whom?

Now let me turn to what is of less importance: the visible world around us. What benefactor has enabled you to look out upon the beauty of the sky, the sun in its course, the circle of the moon, the countless number of stars, with the harmony and order that are theirs, like the music of a harp? Who has blessed you with rain, with the art of husbandry, with different kinds of food, with the arts, with houses, with laws, with states, with a life of humanity and culture, with friendship and the easy familiarity of kinship?

Who has given you dominion over animals, both those that are tame and those that provide you with food? Who has made you master of everything on earth? In short, who has endowed you with all that makes mankind superior to all other living creatures? Is it not God who asks you now in your turn to show yourself generous above all other creatures and for the sake of all other creatures? Because we have received from God so many wonderful gifts, will we not be ashamed to refuse him this one thing only, our generosity? Though He is God and Lord, He is not afraid to be known as our Father. Shall we for our part repudiate those who are our kith and kin?

Friends let us never allow ourselves to misuse what has been given by God’s gift. If we do, we shall hear St. Peter say: ‘Be ashamed of yourselves for holding on to what belongs to someone else. Resolve to imitate God’s justice, and no one will be poor,’ Let us not labor to heap up and hoard riches while others remain in need. If we do, the prophet Amos will speak out against us with sharp and threatening words: ‘Come now you that say: When will the new moon be over, so that we may start selling? When will sabbath be over, so that we may start opening our treasures?’

Let us put into practice the supreme and primary law of God. He sends down rain on the righteous and sinful alike and causes the sun to rise on all without distinction. To all earth’s creatures, he has given the broad earth, the springs, the rivers, and the forests. He has given the air to the birds, and the waters to those who live in water. He has given abundantly all the basic needs of life, not as a private possession, not restricted by law, not divided by boundaries, but as common to all, amply, and in rich measure. His gifts are not deficient in any way because He wanted to give equality of blessing to equality of worth and to show the abundance of His generosity.”

Gregory of Nazianzus from his oration ‘On the Love of the Poor’ in Celebrating the Seasons: Daily Spiritual Readings for the Christian Year, compiled by Robert Atwell (Norwich: Canterbury Press, 1999) Tuesday after Epiphany 1.

While his remarks are ancient, they seem totally relevant for our modern world. Read it again. What key words stand out to you?

This is my list: Recognize. Benefactor. Dominion. Endowed. Misuse. Repudiate. Ashamed. Resolve. Equality, Abundance. Generosity.

Now ask the Holy Spirit to help you center on one word, or perhaps a few that mark the message in this oration for you. I’ve got mine. You pick yours.

Now consider what action or actions you need to take in light of that word or phrase. God help this oration not fall on deaf ears. Amen.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. Luke 12:33

“Not one of this world’s blessings belongs to its owner securely enough to prevent time destroying it or envy transferring it elsewhere… Let us profit by them in the only good way we can, that is, let us gain possession of our souls by giving alms, and share our earthly goods with the poor so as to enrich ourselves with the wealth of heaven.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-391) as recounted in “The Catholic Storeroom.”

Again I am exploring the thinking of Gregory because he was in the room pictured above in the year 381 for the proceedings so I want his words to echo today.

How do we provide for ourselves purses in eternity? How do we enrich ourselves with the wealth of heaven? How do we secure resources so time neither destroys them nor envy transfer them elsewhere?

We share them. But you may ask, how do I do that in practical terms so that it does not take shape as a handout that creates dependency but serves as a hand up to build disciples?

Support ministries like GTP that empower national workers to build trust and grow local giving like we did this week in Istanbul. Listen to a summary of their retreat feedback from the trip report.

Sher (Nepal) – “I liked Handful of Rice and Palmful of Maize. I will share it with my church and spread it to the 6,000 churches I serve.”

Palmira (Angola) – “As God provides enough, I see that stewardship and standards are the keys to solving the problem of sustainability.”

Vazgen (Armenia) – “Stations of Generosity has great stories that inspire us to action.”

Pavel (Uzbekistan) – “We can be both receivers and givers. We need to make a transparent church that gives and receives to develop the culture of generosity.”

Ujjwal (Nepal) – “I plan to follow these 4 steps to multiply stewards: I do, you watch. I do, you help. You do, I help. You do, I watch.”

Adeel (Pakistan) – “I will try my very best to show that sharing is caring. To share is to care and let others see how God is caring for us.”

Talant (Kazakhstan) – “Generosity is about money and seeking God’s kingdom first.”

Vitali (Turkey/Bulgaria) – “Together with God we can do anything. Nothing is impossible.”

Shalom (Kenya) – “God is sending out an invitation to raise stewards that will bring His kingdom on earth. Will I join him in this?”

Right now we have opportunities to do program work to multiply stewards and mobilize peer accountability groups in Malaysia, Bangladesh, Qatar, Pakistan, Ireland, Albania, Nepal, and an invitation to Uzbekistan, but we lack the funds. Help send us. Give to GTP today and you will enrich yourself for eternity.

For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. Hosea 6:6

“Let us visit Christ wherever we may be. Let us care for Him, feed Him, clothe Him, welcome Him, honor Him – not only at a meal, as some have done, or by anointing Him, as Mary did, not only by lending him a tomb, like Joseph of Arimathea did, or by arranging for His burial, like Nicodemus, not only by giving Him gold, frankincense and myrrh, like the Magi did before all the others. The Lord of all asks for mercy and sacrifice, and mercy is greater… Let us then show Him mercy in the persons of the poor and those who today are lying on the ground, so that when we come to leave this world, we may be received into an everlasting dwelling place, by Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-391) in Roman Pilgrimage: The Station Churches.

How we treat the poor has eternal implications.

A lot of people don’t realize that. How we treat those undeserving of our aid shows whether or not we understand the mercy that has been extended to each of us.

Our retreat has been an indescribable success in Istanbul.

Workers from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Armenia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Angola, Kenya, and Nepal want to collaborate to multiply stewards and set up peer accountability groups in their countries.

Want to help those in countries needing mercy?

Through this retreat in Turkey, GTP has identified country coordinators. Your gifts here help us translate resources and do program work to shape the future in these place.

Or in plain terms, your sacrifice shows mercy to those who need it.

Don’t close this email, please. Gregory says, “Visit Christ wherever He may be.” Don’t hold on to resources. Put them to work while you have time and opportunity to show mercy.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:2-4

“Let us not esteem worldly prosperity or adversity as things real or of any moment, but let us live elsewhere, and raise all our attention to Heaven; esteeming sin as the only true evil, and nothing truly good, but virtue which unites us to God.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-391) in The Voice of the Saints: Counsels from the Saints to Bring Comfort and Guidance in Daily Living by Francis W. Johnston (Tan Books, 2003).

I am having a heavenly time with this group of influencers from Nepal, Pakistan, Angola, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Turkey, Armenia, and the Philippines.

Their receptivity coupled with their connectivity in their countries will open the door to program work in largely closed places. With invitations and visas we can collaborate.

And yesterday we went to the room pictured above, Hagia Irene (older than Hagia Sophia) where 152 servants of God edited the Nicene Creed which has shaped the Church ever since.

We read the creed together and talked about the impact of that small group and the impact each of us can have. They pathway for doing this is not to live elsewhere.

What about you? Are you settled comfortably in the world? What will happen when you realize your stay here is short? Does your use of money connect to the earthly or the eternal?

If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Leviticus 25:35

“You, however, look at the primitive equality, not at the later distinction, not at the law of the powerful, but at the law of the Creator. Help, as much as you can, nature; honor the primitive freedom; respect yourself; cover the dishonor of your family; assist those who are sick and aid those who are needy.”

Gregory of Nazianzus in On the Love for the Poor in Social Thought, ed. Peter C. Phan, Message of the Fathers of the Church, vol. 20 (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier) 26.

Today’s training, as I stated yesterday, is one like no other.

I am teaching and facilitating a replicable training with influencers from Nepal, Pakistan, Angola, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, Turkey, Armenia, and the Philippines over the next two days.

Our opening dinner last night went great. Pray for us.

And today’s post has relevance in light of this ethnic diversity. We are one in Christ. And we share the same primitive equality. When we set aside distinction and power, we discover there is no difference between any of us.

At that moment we realize our role to help, honor, and assist.

Who do you know that society says is not worthy of help, who cannot make it on their own, or who has fallen on hard times? What if you looked at the primitive equality? You would find no difference. From that place, deliver help, restore honor, and assist as needed…generously.

And pray for our group as we visit this room (pictured above) where five articles were added by 152 humble servants in A.D. 381 giving us the Nicene Creed that we embrace today.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

“We were made for good works to the glory and praise of our Maker, and to imitate God as far as might be.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390) in Nicene & Post-Nicene Series 2 Vol 7, ed. Philip Schaff (1980) 354.

Since I stood in the room (Hagia Irene, pictured above) where the first Council of Constantinople added five articles to the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381, I hav been moved to read the works of Gregory of Nazianzus who was part of that meeting.

Today he calls us to imitate God as we are able. What would that look like for you in relationship to those around you? God made you for good works that praise your Maker. Are you doing them? Do people see God through your generosity?

The World Evangelical Alliance conference has drawn to a close with remarkable fruits. The evangelical alliances in countries like Albania, Qatar, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Ireland are eager to set up peer accountability groups (like ECFA in USA). No kidding.

Now I pivot to hosting a group of influencers for onsite program work in Istanbul. Pray for Ruthie Cristobal and me as we teach and train 9 influencers from Nepal, Pakistan, Angola, Kenya, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and Armenia the next two days. Thanks.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“May God preserve me from being rich while they are indigent, from enjoying robust health if I do not try to cure their diseases, from eating good food, clothing myself well and resting in my home if I do not share with them a piece of my bread and give them, in the measure of my abilities, part of my clothes and if I do not welcome them into my home.”

Gregory of Nazianzus in On the Love for the Poor in Social Thought, ed. Peter C. Phan, Message of the Fathers of the Church, vol. 20 (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier) 19.

Since I stood in the room (Hagia Irene, pictured above) where the first Council of Constantinople added five articles to the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381, it got me thinking.

As I stated the last two days, I decided to research who was in the room and review any extant writings from Council participants.

This led me to explore Gregory of Nazianzus. He was there, and he gives us the next few posts. Today he offers us this prayer from his classic work, On the Love for the Poor.

We must think keenly about the implications of this. Gregory basically spells out what it means to love our neighbor. It means to care for them as we care for ourselves.

What would your life look like if you cared for someone in need this next month as you cared for yourself? What would change in your spending? And in your giving?

Pray the prayer again and then ask the Holy Spirit to guide your steps.

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8

“We must, then, open the doors to all the poor and all those who are victims of disasters, whatever the causes may be, since we have been told to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. And since we are human beings, we must pay our debt of goodness to our fellow human beings, whatever the cause of their plight: orphanhood, exile, cruelty of the master, rashness of those who govern, inhumanity of tax-collectors, brutality of blood-thirsty bandits, greediness of thieves, confiscation, or shipwreck.”

Gregory of Nazianzus in On the Love for the Poor in Social Thought, ed. Peter C. Phan, Message of the Fathers of the Church, vol. 20 (Wilmington, DE: Michael Glazier) 6.

As I stated yesterday, I’ve have tabled research for the foreseeable future and shifted to researching quotes from saints through the centuries on generosity. Since I stood in the room (Hagia Irene, pictured above) where the first Council of Constantinople added five articles to the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381, it got me thinking.

I decided to research who was in the room and review any extant writings from Council participants. This led me to explore Gregory of Nazianzus. He was there, and he gives us the next few posts. Today he inspires us to consider our “debt of goodness to our fellow human beings.”

The line that struck me was “whatever the cost of their plight.” As times have not changed, and our world seems to be crumbling around us, let us resolve to consider who we can help and how we might help them. Message me if you want to pay your debt to goodness and support GTP efforts serving workers in the hardest places.

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 2 Kings 4:2

“Give something, however small, to the one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.”

Gregory of Nazianzus (329-390 in 365 Days with the Saints: A Year of Wisdom from the Saints, compiled by Carol Kelly-Gangi (Author) (New York: Wellfleet, 2015) 2.

I’ve decided to table research for a while and go back to researching quotes from saints through the centuries on generosity. Since I stood in the room (Hagia Irene, pictured above) where the first Council of Constantinople added five articles to the Nicene Creed, it got me thinking.

I want to research who was in the room and review any extant writings from Council participants. This led me to explore Gregory of Nazianzus. He was there, and he gives us today’s post! God wants all of us to give what we can. He can use it. He can multiply it. He only wants us to make it available for His purposes and glory.

Let me illustrate this in real-time. I’ve been praying on and off for the last few hours for Annie Robin, GTP Country Coordinator for Pakistan, and her team. Their women’s ministry in Lahore took up a collection for persecuted Christians in Jaranwala. You may have seen images of this situation in the world news.

She and her team hired a driver and took a collection to bless ten Christian families who have suffered great loss during these difficult days. Though they don’t have what many would describe as great wealth, they set a goal and rallied generous sharing, and gave what they had. It made a difference in the lives of those they served.

Soon I will get the whole story from her, but the good news is that their mission was successful. What do you have in your house, like Elisha asked the widow? Or a position of authority like Annie to inspire others to take up a collection? Do you have resources to contribute to someone with nothing?

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

“Research suggests that there are a number of demographic and geographical factors that influence generosity. These include aspects like regional levels of trust as well as aspects that might not normally be thought of as impacting generosity, such as city size and diversity… Studies have found that people in rural environments exhibit more prosocial behaviors. A meta-analysis of 65 experiments found that people who lived in rural areas engaged in more helping behaviors compared to those who lived in urban areas, and another study of people who were raised in rural or urban China found that individuals raised in rural environments were more generous to strangers and distant acquaintances.”

Summer Allen in “The Science of Generosity” White Paper produced by the Greater Good Science Center.

I arrived safely in Istanbul. I will interact with people from all over the world at the World Evangelical Alliance conference from 8-12 October 2023. Here’s the link to the event.

I’m basically giving a TED talk on “A biblical basis of governance stewardship accountability with real-life practice.” Reply to this email if you want a copy of my slide deck.

On the day before the conference began my GTP colleagues and I took time to visit Hagia Irene. Everybody talks up Hagia Sophia, which was great, but the experience is somewhat anticlimactic as it has been converted to a mosque.

Hagia Irene is a lesser known church and the site where 152 bishops gathered for the Second Council of the early church to add five article to sharpen the Nicene Creed in A.D. 381. See the sacred hall where it happened above.

As I continue digging in this goldmine of research, my exploration has come to look at demographic and geographical factors. It seems the more concentrated the people (urban versus rural) the less generous we become.

It makes sense. The more crowded things become, the more we might be prone to keep to ourselves and forget the most basic injunction of Jesus: to love God and love our neighbor.

What does this look like where you live? How does your context influence your generosity? 

Jenni and I moved into a neighborhood with many young families. She’s getting to know many of them while walking our dog, Grace. Most have small children or are expecting new arrivals.

As I notice these realities, it inspires me to think how can might influence the faith of these families through our love, interaction, and generosity.

Ponder how your demographic and geographical factors setting might influence your generosity and determine what God might have you do where He has planted you.