Memorial of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church 

Scripture Readings 

As I sit down at my desk to write my reflections I read through the selected scriptures looking for what jumps off the page at me.  Sometimes it seems sensible and obvious and other times it seems strange and unconnected.  Today was certainly the latter.  Reading the passage from Isaiah I had one word permeate my thoughts, 'tithe'[1].  Strange as it was at first, I believe it fits the prophecy Isaiah made.  Before explaining its appropriateness, I want to clarify my own history with the word tithe.

When I was away from my faith, I was convinced tithing was bad.  I, like possibly some of you, thought of tithing as a convenient way for already wealthy churches to get richer.  It was simply an excusable Christian synonym for swindle.  I even remember sitting in a friends living room accusing churches of collecting tithes to simply waste money on big screen TVs when there were poor people they weren't helping who needed that money.  To me it was the epitome of hypocrisy, and the image I had was a televangelist standing before a congregation telling them that, 'Brothers and Sisters, tithing brings favor from God and your own wealth and fortune will increase as well, so allow the Lord into your heart as your personal Lord and Savior then call this number and they'll take your credit card information.'  Mind you, I had never actually watched a Christian pastor's broadcast, but that's what I assumed happened.  Now, I don't deny that there are people who swindle in the name of faith and use tithes to further their own financial gain, but that isn't what tithing is, that is what sin does.  So, after returning to my faith, what does tithe mean to me now?  Answering that question brings us back to Isaiah.

The prophet Isaiah tells us, “O people of Zion, who dwell in Jerusalem,/ no more will you weep;/ He will be gracious to you when you cry out,/ as soon as he hears he will answer you./ The Lord will give you the bread you need/ and the water for which you thirst” (Is 30:19-20a).  It was these words that brought 'tithe' to mind.  It was the answer to the question, “How will God make this happen?”  He wants to accomplish this prophecy through us and our tithes.  Yes, our monetary tithes, but also our tithes of time and talent.  I have come to realize that tithing is not about earning favor with God, rather it is about giving so others may experience God's favor for them.  It is about giving in order to help further the Kingdom of God; a kingdom of justice, charity, and peace.  Realizing this changed my whole perspective on giving to Catholic Relief Services or doctors offering their services for free or being present at a march to fight injustice.  These things aren't about checking an arbitrary and obligatory box, but are about helping others experience God in a real, tangible, and, I daresay, sacramental way.  But as our rich tradition teaches us, it is as much about what you do as what you don't do.

I heard a comedian who reflected on food saying, “That would be cool if you could eat a good food with a bad food and the good food would cover for the bad food when it got to your stomach. Like you could eat a carrot with an onion ring and they would travel down to your stomach, then they would get there, and the carrot would say, 'It's cool, he's with me'.”  Sadly, we all know this doesn't work.  But we need to remember it doesn't work with our tithing either.  Whatever amount of money I spend supporting Catholic Relief Services or my parish doesn't give me a free pass to spend irresponsibly.  In pursuit of justice as well as charity, it is right for me to boycott companies that utilize unjust business practices; that dehumanize people; that show blatant disregard for people and God's creation in the name of profit; and that support causes contrary to the pursuit of justice.  Now I'm not saying you have to create extensive boycott lists, drive hours for groceries, and never accept gifts that were purchased at certain stores.  What I am suggesting is that if you have two similar stores and you know one uses sweatshops and the other doesn't, pick the one that doesn't.  If you know that one store sells pornographic material, and the other chooses not to support the dehumanization of women, choose the one that upholds women.  If you know that one offers both mothers and fathers a decent amount of leave at the birth of a child, while another gives only the mother the shortest maternity leave possible, choose the one that supports the whole family.  Think of it as playing defense within the realm of tithing.

Finally, I'd like to return to Isaiah, “No longer will your Teacher hide himself,/ but with your own eyes you shall see your Teacher,/ While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears:/ 'This is the way; walk in it,'/ when you would turn to the right or to the left” (Is 30:20b-21).  This passage addresses the importance of supporting your church as well.  There is certainly a real physical poverty that we are called to address, but there is also a spiritual poverty that we are called to respond to as well.  We support our churches through time, talent, and treasure to help address this spiritual poverty, not because we are the 'Teacher' Isaiah speaks of, but because the Church helps make the Teacher accessible.  Through the Church, God gives us Scripture and the Eucharist, both of which place our Teacher before our own eyes.  And when we would 'turn to the right or to the left,' I believe that voice from behind us is the counsel God provides through those around us.  Even in giving of our time and talent as a tithe we allow ourselves to be those instruments that someone else might hear the voice of the Lord through. 

As we reflect upon this prophecy from Isaiah, let us remember that God fulfills His promises and sometimes He does it through us.  Though He doesn't need our help, He wants it.  So, next time the collection basket comes around or you are invited to volunteer or stand up against injustice, remember that this isn't an obligation we do to make God happy with us, but something we do to help others come to see their Teacher with their own eyes and learn how much joy He finds in them.

Lord, thank You for all of those who give selflessly in a desire to heal physical and spiritual poverty.  Thank You for the gifts we have been given and please help us reflect Your generosity to those around us.

-Spencer Hargadon

Dedicated to my parents who taught me by example how to 'play defense' in the realm of tithing, and to Chuck as he generously gives his time and talent to the people of Botswana.