Our giving in response to God's call involves so much more than being generous on the day of giving. We can write a generous check to a charity and never think about them before or after the gift. Alternatively, we can pray for discernment beforehand and pray for that charitable ministry afterward. This makes our gift even more fruitful.

"In seedtime the sluggard plows not; when he looks for the harvest, it is not there" (Prv 20:4). The sluggard was not totally lazy, for he did go out and sow seed in the field. We know this because he took the effort to go out and look for a harvest. However, he didn't put in the time to do the plowing. Perhaps he had plowed last year and hoped that he would still get a harvest, despite skipping a step this year. Possibly he waited till the last minute to do the plowing but bad weather prevented it. Or perhaps he was simply lazy and didn't get around to it, hoping that he would get a good harvest anyway. The message is that merely sowing seed is not as effective as doing the full measure of diligent, "whole-life generosity."

Let's not limit our giving to a one-time act of charity. Rather, give everything generously. Plow and pray beforehand; pray and follow-up afterward. Be bountiful in giving your whole-life generously and reap an abundant harvest for the Lord.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 24, 2018

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