The Thirty-Three Holy Martyrs of Militene (284-305); Our Venerable Father and Wonderworker Lazarus, Hermit of Mount Galesius (1054)
2 Corinthians 8:1-5; Luke 8:16-21
Read 2 Corinthians 8:1-5
The Holy Apostle Paul tells us here of the generosity of the churches of Macedonia, which, despite their challenges, gave liberally to support the poor of the Church. It is clear that he holds them up as an example to the troublesome faithful of the Church at Corinth. Why did the Macedonians give with such generosity? St. Paul tells us that “first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.” It is telling that their fidelity to the Word and their surrender to God comes first.
If we have not given ourselves fully to God we are disinclined to give ourselves fully to others. Without God and without our commitment to the Gospel, we will not give in an ordered way, that is free and without thought of our own material needs since all good things come from Him. St. Paul speaks here of material things, but we can also say that without first giving ourselves to the Lord we cannot fully give ourselves to others in non-material ways. Without Christ, we cannot fully love, and thus not show true mercy, or true compassion, or truly come to know others as they desire to be known. Only by joining ourselves to Him can we truly give out of love for those He places in our lives.