+ “It is not only what you do, but how you do it and why you do it that counts.”
That is probably true in almost everything; but it was absolutely true for Jesus.
He clearly encouraged people to do the good spiritual works like praying and fasting and giving alms.
But Jesus made quite the point about how and why one should do those things.
It really is not about social benefit, receiving people’s praise, and showing off.
It is about spiritual benefit — doing the good is its own good, and it was praised also today by Paul in his letter to the Corinthians.
Surely, St. Paul would say that one does good because they truly have received grace and that grace has been effective within them.
A graced life loves the good, seeks the good, does the good, and rejoices in the good.
And the more the graced giver and doer gives and does, the more their spirit is graced; in fact, that abundant grace they receive is grace, upon grace, upon grace.
Paul says it most directly and succinctly in both the negative and the positive, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully”; “a cheerful giver!”
That’s who they are, and that is what they do!
And the grace just keeps on flowing.
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
