Common of the Blessed Virgin Mary
I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. (Philippians 4:17)
Many cultures take gift giving very seriously. The Japanese are a prime example. In Japan, you are expected to bring a gift when visiting someone. You should present your gift modestly, using both hands and saying something like, “This is really nothing, but …” Moreover, when receiving a gift, it’s considered polite to refuse it two or three times before finally accepting it. These customs may seem strange to people from other cultures, but they convey the idea that the mere gesture of giving is just as important as the gift itself.
Paul is saying something similar when he tells the Philippians that he doesn’t need their money, even though he is glad to have it. Paul is clearly self-sufficient and doesn’t need anyone to hold his hand! He left home when young to study under the great rabbi Gamaliel. Then, when he became an apostle, he supported himself by making tents rather than rely on people’s donations (Acts 18:3; 22:3).
So when Paul says, “I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account” (Philippians 4:17), he isn’t thanking the Philippians so much for covering his expenses, as for meeting their own spiritual needs!
It may clarify this point to think about what happens at Mass. There we offer gifts of bread and wine to God, as well as our financial gifts. We do so in a spirit of humility, recognizing that God doesn’t need them. Try to imagine God, out of a desire to be polite, saying, “That’s very generous, but you didn’t need to bring me anything. I just enjoy having you with me. Your presence is gift enough.” But then he accepts your gift happily and uses it to build up his Church. Your generosity, your care for his people in need, fills him with delight.
With that in mind, try to get to Mass a little early tomorrow so you can spend a few minutes in silent prayer. Offer Jesus everything you can think of: your work, your vocation, your finances, your struggles and pains, your loved ones, even your enemies! Honor him with your gifts, just as you would do for a good friend, and know that he is smiling on you.
“Take, Lord; receive the gift of my life.”
Psalm 112:1-2; 5-6, 8-9; Luke 16:9-15
Daily Marriage Tip for November 8, 2014:
(Reader’s Tip) Embrace the Cross. Marriage, like any vocation, is a path to holiness, with its sorrows as well as joys.