W hatever we try to keep will stagnate, but what we give back can be changed and can change the world.

Feast of St. Lawrence

2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Psalm 112:1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9

J ohn 12:24-26   (alternate reading: Matthew 17:22-27) -- (24) Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  (25)  He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  (26) If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also; if any one serves me, the Father will honor him.

* Meditation by Tamora Whitney

It’s true we reap what we sow.  If we didn’t plant seeds and take care of them, we could not harvest anything. Whatever we want, we have to put time and energy into. Planting one seed will surely give a smaller harvest than planting one hundred seeds.  A neglected plant will not be as bountiful as one watered and cared for. But the corollary is also good – what we reap, we should sow.  God gives us everything, but many complain about giving back.  The good things we are given we should give back in charity, in energy, and in good works. And we should give back cheerfully. Whatever we give our time and energy to will be our blessing in return.

But this entails sacrifice as well.  We have to spend time and energy to get a return.  We have to share our bounty from God and from our work. To get something back, something must be given up.  We cannot have our cake, and eat it too.  Keeping a seed does no good.  It must be planted to sprout, but then it’s not a seed anymore, it’s something else entirely.  It’s a whole new plant, and the cycle of life continues. We cannot keep and preserve what we are given – we have to give it back, but then it’s changed into something else entirely. Whatever we try to keep will stagnate, but what we give back can be changed and can change the world.

S upplementary Reading

Take the High Road by John C. Maxwell

Do what is right and good in the Lord's sight, so that it may go well with you . . .  – Deuteronomy 6:18

T he high road truly is the path less traveled. I say that because taking the high road requires thinking and acting in ways that are not natural or common. However, those who practice the High Road Principle become instruments of grace to others and recipients of grace.

People who embrace the high road make excellence their goal. That's something that can be accomplished if we:

• Care more than others think is wise.
• Risk more than others think is safe.
• Dream more than others think is practical.
• Expect more than others think is possible.
• Work more than others think is necessary.

When we conduct ourselves according to our highest standards, we are less likely to be defensive and take the low road when attacked by others. I say that because when you know you've done all you can do, you can let criticism roll off your back like rain.

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Choose to take the high road today, regardless of what others may do or say.

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• 08/13/2009 03:13 - Aug 15, 2009 - Saturday Meditation (Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Body and Soul)
• 08/13/2009 02:36 - Aug 14, 2009 - Friday Meditation (Jesus High Ideals on Marriage)
• 08/12/2009 04:02 - Aug 13, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Forgive and be Forgiven)
• 08/11/2009 02:06 - Aug 12, 2009 - Wednesday Meditation (Ablaze for God)
• 08/10/2009 02:50 - Aug 11, 2009 - Tuesday Meditation (God's Guidance)

• 08/06/2009 02:05 - Aug 9, 2009 - Sunday Meditation (Bread - Blessed and Broken for Others)
• 08/06/2009 02:00 - Aug 8, 2009C - Saturday Meditation (In Our Emptiness, We will have MORE Room for HIM!)
• 08/06/2009 01:57 - Aug 7, 2009 - Friday Meditation (Life Gives You What You Expect)
• 08/04/2009 02:49 - Aug 6, 2009 - Thursday Meditation (Are you Spiritually Awake?)
• 08/03/2009 03:06 - Aug 5, 2009 - Wednesday Meditation (Insistent Faith!)