Wednesday of the
Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
(II Corinthians
9:6-11; Matthew 6:1-6.16-18)
Henri Nouwen was one
of the most noted spiritual writers of the second half of the last
century. He wrote columns and books on
how to live the gospel every day. At one
point he turned his attention to fundraising.
He explained to those working in Church development how to serve God more
faithfully.
Nouwen wrote that
fundraising is not begging. Rather it is
projecting a vision for the Church and asking people to share in it with their
money. In short, it is a way to involve
people in the Church’s ministry. He also
saw fundraising as a call to conversion.
Both fundraisers and potential benefactors are called to change their
perspective. They should come to terms with
the fact that God’s new project has a role for them.
We have been hearing
about St. Paul’s fundraising project in the first reading these last few days. He is calling the community in Corinth to
help support the Christians in Jerusalem.
He is asking them to look beyond their own needs to people in distress. No doubt, he sees their assistance as a way
to solidify the communion of Jews and non-Jews that the Church is meant to be.
