If you sow sparingly, you will reap sparingly. If you sow abundantly, you will reap abundantly. The Lord loves a joyful giver. We are to sow our seeds joyfully. We are to give out of our faith and out of our heart. We hear these words from St Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians today. Paul founded the Christian community in Corinth. He wrote this letter around the year 55, responding to a time of discord and disunity in the community in Corinth. As a result, Paul was subject to attacks and insults, with his authority being challenged by the Corinthians.
Jesus builds upon what we hear from Paul, telling us that we should not perform righteous deeds in order to impress others. In the past, many of us operated out of a sense of obligation. While it is not entirely bad to feel a sense of obligation, we should also give out of thanks and gratitude. Sometimes, in our journey of faith, we will not know if the seeds that we sow will bear fruit. We put our faith and trust in God, sowing seeds where he calls us to sow them. Author Robert Louis Steven once said, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds you sow.” That is good advice.
St Paul sowed seeds in the Christian community that he founded in Corinth. Even in the midst of challenges and struggle, he continued to sow seeds of encouragement and love. May we continue to sow seeds even when it appears difficult and hopeless.
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