Homily: June 27, 2021: 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15

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(Please read the passage cited above first.)

My sisters and brothers, the Corinthians were taking up a collection for the poor Christians living in Jerusalem.  Always in collections of this kind, there has to be an equality.  Each person must give as each is able and each must receive as each one can.  Christ give us the example.  He was rich as regards the Father, but he made himself poor so as to enrich us by his poverty.

Some are rich in money, others in faith, others is wisdom, or intelligence or time or some other talent.  We have to share our goods and talents, which means that we must give and receive in mutuality.   To give to the need and to receive from the rich demands the same mercy and the same charity.

The mercy and charity of the one ease the needs of the other.  The mercy and charity of the one who receives helps the other.  The mercy and charity of each is equal because there is equality between both.

God did not make death, but God died in order to destroy death and give life.  The mercy and the charity of God gave us God’s like to save us.  We need the glory of the life of God and God in God’s mercy and charity gave us God’s life.

Those who have ought to give to those who have not, and those who have not ought to receive the grace that those who have can give.

The woman in the gospel gave her faith and Christ gave her health in return.  The Corinthians shared their money with the Christians in Jerusalem and those in Jerusalem their faith in Christ with the Corinthians.  Those who had a richness in faith shared with those who had other resources and there was an equality.

How can we share our Catholic faith with the rest of the world?  Spanish-speaking people have a stronger sense of community than English-speaking people.  English-speaking people can share their hospitality and the Spanish-speaking people can share their sense of community, and there will be an equality between us.

We are bound to share our wealth with each other.  “In this there is equality, as Scripture says, ‘Whoever has much did not have more, and whoever had little did not have less.’”