Oleksandr Zhabenko

🇬🇧 Glory be to Jesus Christ! 🌞 Dedicated to Emma Kok.

(2 Corinthians IX, 6-11)

This reading is preceded by the one referred to here:
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The continuation of today’s reading is the one referred to here:
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2 Corinthians IX, 8 – ‘περισσευσαι’ – ‘periesseusai’ – ‘to exceed’. ‘αυταρκειαν’ – ‘autarkeian’ – ‘self-sufficiency; independence’. ‘περισσευητε’ – ‘perisseuete’ – ‘exceed’.

2 Corinthians IX, 11 – ‘ημων’ – ‘emon’ – ‘us’ ((through) us). ‘απλοτητα’ – ‘aploteta’ – ‘simplicity, sincerity, purity’.

Man was created so that he could be gifted with all kinds of grace. For more information, please follow the links:
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Here Paul writes that people’s generosity in kindness, in good gifts, in helping leads to the fact that the Lord bestows His mercies and generosities on them. First of all, this is manifested in graces.

Verse 8, the words from which are mentioned above, says that one should strive for self-sufficiency, not in isolation, separation (although this may be necessary and required in the case of bad influence to eliminate or avoid it), but through mutual cooperation and help. In this way, a person can become more like God, Who is the One in the Holy Trinity.

Verse 11 also emphasises the cleansing effect of generosity and giving – a person who gives generously and willingly learns simplicity and sincerity, which greatly contributes to and leads to purity of heart. That is why all these concepts are often mentioned together, and one often implies the presence of the other(s). A simple and sincere person often also has greater purity.

The quotations are from various places in the Old Testament, particularly from the psalms and prophets.

Paul speaks of the spiritual life almost everywhere here, speaking of you (readers, listeners, addressees). One might think that the Lord gives spiritual things to people who are truly generous, who give willingly, from the heart, generously.

(Luke VII, 11-16)

Luke VII, 13 – ‘εσπλαγχνισθη’ – ‘esplankhnisthe’ - ‘had compassion, showed sympathy, pity’.

Luke VII, 16 – ‘ημιν’ – ‘emin’ – (to) ‘us’ ((in, among) us).

The raising of the son of the widow of Nain is described only in Luke. Jesus Christ shows mercy and compassion as both God and human. He raises the son, returns him to his mother, and comforts her and all those present.

Let me focus on God’s compassion. I have written about it before. See the link:
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To the Saint Fathers of the VII Ecumenical Council:
(Hebrews XIII, 7-16; John XVII, 1-13)
For a frequent reading from the Apostle, see the link:
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For reading from the Gospel, see here:
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Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee!

Source:
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