Today’s second scripture reading at Mass in the Roman Catholic tradition is a wonderful rendition of the inner peace that comes with acknowledging the balance and equity of material needs, wants and apportionment. St Paul does not ask for the reversal of fortunes, or even equal misery – just the generosity of needing less and sharing more; a shared togetherness. But the most precious commodity today is not wealth, but rather, time, attentiveness, and a dissatisfaction with the status quo.

The Lord Jesus became poor for your sake, to make you rich

You always have the most of everything – of faith, of eloquence, of understanding, of keenness for any cause, and the biggest share of our affection – so we expect you to put the most into this work of mercy too. Remember how generous the Lord Jesus was: he was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to make you rich out of his poverty. This does not mean that to give relief to others you ought to make things difficult for yourselves: it is a question of balancing what happens to be your surplus now against their present need, and one day they may have something to spare that will supply your own need. That is how we strike a balance: as scripture says: The man who gathered much had none too much, the man who gathered little did not go short. (Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:7,9,13-15)

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc,