Alphonsus Liguori: Merciful Generosity

On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:12-13

“We must show charity towards the sick, who are in great need of help. Let us take them some small gift if they are poor, or, at least, let us go and wait on them and comfort them.”

Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) in The Voice of the Saints: Counsels from the Saints to Bring Comfort and Guidance in Daily Living, ed. Francis W. Johnston (London: Burns & Oates, 1965).

Jesus words are instructive: “But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” History reveals Liguori planted a congregation that focused on serving others in a time when people were forgetting to put to practice what Jesus taught. Times have not changed much.

Let’s not overcomplicate the gospel by window-dressing it in modernity. Let’s simply follow it. In so doing we will learn what it means to extend merciful generosity. For we were once sick and nursed to health. Likewise, let’s aid others.

Father in heaven, show each of us (by your Holy Spirit) one person this week that is in need. From the resources in our stewardship, may our sharing with them cause them to feel your divine love and comfort. Help us extend merciful generosity that brings you glory, I ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

For a suggestion of someone to aid, click here to give according to your ability, to help Peter Gomez study to be a pastor. He’s had a tough summer earning money for school with a recent emergency appendectomy. As of this morning he was at $4,000 toward the $12,000 he needs to receive. Join us in showing him charity by making a gift.

Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. Romans 15:2

“I saw how imperfect was the love I bore my sisters in religion. I understood that I did not love them as our Lord loves them. I know now that true charity consists in bearing all our neighbours’ defects—not being surprised at their weakness, but edified at their smallest virtues. Above all, I know that charity must not remain shut up in the heart.”

Thérèse de Lisieux (1873-1897) in Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux (Astern Press, 2015)

We are making our way from the saints of old to the present. Today, Thérèse de Lisieux reminds us to love others as our Lord loves them. That’s true charity!

When our lives reflect true charity all is peaceful and beautiful, just like the lake (pictured above) behind the home of Raymond Suen, who graciously hosted the board meetings I attended in Seattle this past weekend.

Lord, teach us to love others as you love us. May our generosity in extending your kindness not be shut up in our hearts but exhibited in every aspect of our lives for your glory. Amen.

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 Peter 4:8

“Charity is that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved.”

Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) in The Voice of the Saints: Counsels from the Saints to Bring Comfort and Guidance in Daily Living, ed. Francis W. Johnston (London: Burns & Oates, 1965).

As I explore generosity through saints in the Middle Ages and Reformation eras, I am finding charity as a key theme. Remember it’s the divine love of God that is grace-filled and generously extended to humankind.

Our role as Christ followers is to receive charity from God and distribute it widely to people.

Again, because it is the one thing that brings life and saves the lost, receiving it and sharing it is precisely our greatest act of generosity.

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

“Pray with great confidence, with confidence based on the goodness and infinite generosity of God and upon the promises of Jesus Christ. God is a spring of living water which flows unceasingly into the hearts of those who pray.”

Louis de Montfort (1673-1716) in The Voice of the Saints: Counsels from the Saints to Bring Comfort and Guidance in Daily Living, ed. Francis W. Johnston (London: Burns & Oates, 1965).

In the midst of the challenges of life and the rigors of ministry I am thankful for the reminder to pray with confidence because of God’s generosity and the faithful promises of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:16

“Do not become upset or feel guilty because you interrupted your prayer to serve the poor. God is not neglected if you leave him for such service. One of God’s works is merely interrupted so that another can be carried out. So when you leave prayer to serve some poor person, remember that this very service is performed for God. Charity is certainly greater than any rule. Moreover all rules must lead to charity.”

Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) in The Liturgy of the Hours, vol. 4 (New York: CBPC, 1975) 1425.

Imagine if you were experiencing a time of need and a person stepped away from prayer or attending church to minister to you. What a generous act of charity that would be!

Here Vincent de Paul reminds Christ followers that serving those in need is just as important as prayer to God. When we do this we are conduits of God’s divine love, that is, charity.

Rules often guide our lives more than Scripture. For example, going to church on Sunday is a rule for many. More important than that for Jesus is that we act like the church every day!

As this week wraps up, Jenni heads to California to spend the weekend with her family celebrating the life of her Grandma Pearl. Meanwhile, I fly to Seattle for Pioneers Hong Kong board meetings.

Regardless of the ministry we are doing or the family time we are enjoying, it is most important that we don’t forget the greater reason we are live each day: to be conduits of charity!

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 106:1

“Not only His generosity but also our iniquity greatly commends the goodness of God. For if it is a great thing to grant many things freely to those who deserve nothing, how much greater will it be to give good things to those who deserve evil things?

O what sort of kindness, which even our impiety is not able to overcome. There are some things that He mercifully forgives; there are other things that He abundantly bestows. For He forgives our evils; He gives His goods generously. Always quick to forgive; always ready to give generously.

The former is kind; the latter, generous. In both cases beneficent; always good. Therefore let us confess our evils to Him. Let us confess our goods to Him. Let us confess our evils to be from us, so that He may in kindness forgive them. Let us confess our goods to be from Him so that He may preserve and increase them.”

Richard of St. Victor (1110-1173) in The Twelve Patriarchs (Classics of Western Spirituality; Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1979) 64.

Kind and generous all the time! That’s our amazing God, not giving us what we deserve and showering blessings on us that we don’t deserve! Today, since it is her birthday, I give thanks to God for the blessing that my wife, Jenni, is to me and everyone she touches!

She is “always quick to forgive, always ready to give generously.” She inspires me to live completely for God and entrust everything to God. While I may have a mind that seeks to know God, she models for me how to love God with my whole heart. Happy Birthday Jenni!

Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

“We have an obligation not only to love each other but also in our love to make ourselves as lovable as possible so that it is easy for our sisters and brothers to love us.”

William of St. Thierry (1085-1148) in “De Natura et Dignitate Amoris” (The Nature and the Dignity of Love). William was a theologian, a monk, and both a contemporary and a close friend to Bernard of Clairvaux.

In the Middle Ages, the Christian life was often lived out in community in an abbey. When Christians lived in close proximity to each other, imagine how easy it would have been to rub each other the wrong way.

Is there someone close to you that sometimes is hard to love or difficult to live with in the community of faith? Perhaps you have co-workers, neighbors, or even family members that drive you crazy.

William would say to make the effort to love them and make yourself lovable. How do we do this? Since the focus of our heart is dying to self, the answer is to take the posture of a servant, like Jesus, and live for God and others.

It’s not easy, so thankfully we have the Holy Spirit to help us live a holy (think: set apart for God) life. God, help us be generous conduits of your divine love and live in such a way that we are lovable to others. Amen.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Corinthians 13:13

“Charity makes the heart expansive and generous, not double or narrow. The soul who is pierced by this tender arrow does not show one thing with her face and tongue when she has another in her heart. Nor does she serve or behave deceitfully or ambitiously with regard to her neighbors, because charity is open with everyone. Therefore the soul who possesses charity never falls into pain or distressing sadness, nor does she argue with obedience; no, she is obedient even to the point of death.”

Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) in The Dialogue, translation and introduction by Suzanne Noffke (Classics of Western Spirituality; Mahwah: Paulist Press, 1980) 347.

As I explore the writings of the saints through the Middle Ages and their insights linked to generosity while in the midst of my own experience of back pain, I find consistent, comforting counsel.

Think about it. The reason the Apostle Paul would celebrate faith, hope, and charity is that we find ourselves in a broken world filled with pain, so it is our faith and hope that aid our perseverance.

Greater than faith and hope, however, is charity, often translated as love. I prefer the word charity, because the Greek word, agape, does not refer to brotherly or sensual love, but rather divine love that only comes from God.

Catherine’s world was filled with pain and distressing sadness. Caterina di Giacomo di Benincasa was born in Siena after it had been devastated by the Black Death. Her sister died in childbearing. She spent most of her short life preaching the gospel and calling for peace in turmoil filled times.

What’s this have to do with generosity?

In a world filled with pain or distressing sadness, like the world of the Apostle Paul, the context of Catherine of Siena and our modern settings today, charity is the greatest thing anyone can possess because it can transform hearts, starting with our own, and it can penetrate the hearts of those with whom we share it, regardless of their pain and sadness. In so doing, it shapes both their earthly lives and their eternal destiny.

If having charity is the greatest thing we can possess, then sharing charity is our greatest act of generosity.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

“When we think that our prayers have not been answered we should not become depressed over it. I am certain that God is telling us that we must wait for a better time, more grace, or that a better gift will be given us.

God is being and wants us to sit, dwell and ground ourself in this knowledge while at the same time realizing that we are noble, excellent, assessed as precious and valuable and have been given creation for our enjoyment.”

Julian of Norwich (1342-1416) in Meditations with Julian of Norwich, Meditation 27, introduction and versions by Brendan Doyle (Santa Fe: Bear & Company, 1983).

My back pain persists for a second week. Since it has been an up and down problem for seven years, countless times I have prayed for relief. Perhaps you too wrestle with a long-time challenge in your life for which you have repeatedly prayed for help from God? If so, then you too know what it is like to be tempted to feel depressed over it.

Julian of Norwich would say not to focus on the pain but focus on the grace that you need, that everyone needs, to make it through life and trust that a better gift at a better time will come because God is a generous God and can be trusted.

Julian was an anchoress. She lived in the small room attached to the church in Norwich, England. People would visit her and be blessed by the interaction. She wrote the book Showings or Revelations of Divine Love, the first book written by a woman in the English language (1395).

The anchoress role fit Julian perfectly because her perspective then was and now remains solid as a rock. The answer in the midst of our pain is to wait for more grace and a better gift at a better time. This is the posture of the soul that trusts in the divine love of God.

My wife, Jenni, is somewhat of a present day anchoress. She’s a spiritual director who has made our home a sanctuary and who meets with women at coffee shops or on trails to walk in God’s creation. She excels at sitting and dwelling with the Lord and encouraging others to hear His voice.

Why mention her? This weekend in reflecting on my pain, she (like Julian) asked: “What do you think the Lord is trying to tell you?” Her question was lifting my gaze upward from my pain to the great Physician. When we are in pain or facing a problem, it’s hard to focus on anything else.

In a separate conversation she (like Julian) reminded me how I and others need more grace. You see when our focus is on our pain, we can’t be generous conduits of God’s grace.

On this Monday morning, if you too have pain or unanswered prayers and are tempted to feel depressed, don’t let your circumstances cause you to forget what God thinks of you. You are precious in His sight! And don’t let them keep you from enjoying Him and His creation.

How do we remain generous despite the brokenness and pain in this world? We ask for more grace while waiting for a better gift. Such a posture renews us inwardly and takes our gaze off the earthly and fixes it to the eternal.

If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. James 3:13

“Humankind demonstrates two aspects: the singing of praise to God, and the doing of good works.

God is made known through praise and in good works, the wonders of God can be seen.

In the praise of God a person is like an angel. But it is in the doing of good works that is the hallmark of humanity.

This completeness makes humankind the fullest creation of God.

It is in praise and service that the surprise of God is consummated.”

Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) in Meditations with Hildegard of Bingen, Meditation 111, introduction and versions by Gabriele Uhlein (Rochester: Bear & Company, 1983).

How awesome is it that our praise and service makes known the surprise of God to a searching world?

Let’s resolve this Lord’s day to rededicate our lives to praise of God and service to God.

It’s why He made us and redeemed us…to reflect His generosity to the whole world.