The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (NTA)

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

⁶ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ⁷ Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written,

       “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever.”

¹⁰ He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. ¹² For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, ¹⁴ while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

The inexpressible gift revealed to you in Jesus Christ, as he commanded the paralytic to get up and walk. God gives you the gift of his love. He gives you the full payment for your debts. He pays the price of your redemption.

St. Paul reminds us we need to be joyful givers. We do not need to wait for the year of Jubilee, to give to our neighbor. It is not about giving to the needed, but helping our brothers to live. It is not just about giving money to our neighbors, it is also about giving each other encouragement. We need to strengthen one another in the true Faith feeding them with the forgiveness of sins. We need to sow the seeds of faith.

We also need to sow the seeds of help. We still need to feed the hungry with bread. Those who are thirst should be given something to drink. This is your job to feed them. At the feeding of the five thousand Jesus tells the disciples to feed the people. He does not perform the miracle until they present all they have.

God gives in abundance. Give everything you have, and keep giving until you have nothing left. God gave all he had, even his only begotten Son for you. All Praise be to God!