Stewardship and the Sunday Readings

April 4th – Easter Sunday
Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil take us
through a lived experience of the Paschal Mystery –
life, death and resurrection.
The readings for Easter Sunday have the themes
of Resurrection and new life woven through all of them.
Stewardship is the way we celebrate this resurrection
and new life every day of the year in our personal and family affairs, work,
and civic involvement. It is bringing the strength of our faith into all of life.

April 11th – from the Acts of the Apostles
“Many signs and wonders were done among
the people at the hands of the apostles.”
Little things that make a difference in another’s life
are most certainly “signs and wonders.”
A smile or a comforting word can lift someone’s sagging spirit.
A few dollars given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society joins a few others
and someone has electricity for a month. Little things offered with love make for great stewardship.

April 18th – from St. John’s Gospel
“Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time
Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.”
Jesus continues to be revealed to us in Eucharist
and in our serving others through stewardship. The presence of Jesus is a
given. It is stewardship that opens our eyes to experience this presence.

April 25th - from the Acts of the Apostles)
“The disciples (Paul and Barnabas) were filled with joy a
nd the Holy Spirit.” Paul and Barnabas had just been expelled from Antioch.
It may be hard to believe that they were then filled with joy. It may be
even harder yet to believe that Antioch became one of the early centers of Christianity!
The promise of stewardship is that even when we struggle and our efforts seem to fail, the Holy Spirit is experienced and joy can be present.

Source: ICSC Newsletter
John Baumann, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish
(Archdiocese of Seattle)