Jesus is our Model - Adapted from an article by Rick Jeric,
Director of Stewardship and Development, Diocese of Columbus, Ohio -
Source: International Catholic Stewardship Council Newsletter
Did you take an accounting of your stewardship of
time, talent, and treasure at the beginning of this
New Year? I hope this accounting, which is both
practical and spiritual, is something which we will
do periodically. This personal effort is even more
important than regular visits to the doctor or dentist.
Our physical health is a top priority. Our spiritual
health determines eternal life. So, what is more
important? Our journey to heaven and eternal life with
God is guided by our good and faithful stewardship.
How we spend our time, how we use our talent, and
where we spend our treasure are all efforts by which
we maintain the life of a Christian. Jesus is our model.
As Christian stewards, it goes without saying that we
have a responsibility to follow the life and teachings
of Jesus Christ.
The Gospels are filled with examples of our Lord’s
prayer life, his relationship with family and friends,
his teachings and his ministry. Jesus was obedient
to his Father in heaven. But he also obeyed and
respected his earthly parents. Jesus bowed his head
and was baptized by John the Baptist. He preached
the Sermon on the Mount, he served those in need.
He confronted the rich and powerful. He cured,
consoled, healed, and forgave.
As Christian stewards we must also be people of
prayer; and like Jesus, we must be willing to bow our
heads, serve, cure, heal, forgive and proclaim the
Gospel in creative ways. We too must be people of
action. Let our practical challenge in the month of
February be to bravely take steps to model the life
and ministry of Jesus, and act in a way pleasing to
the Father. No rationalizing. No exceptions. No age
limits. We must live an authentic Christian life each
and every day. Pray, act, live, and love. Do all to the
fullest, as Jesus did.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Stewardship Reflections for February 2011
Fifth Week in Ordinary Time, Weekend of February 5/6
Jesus said to his followers “You are the light of the world…
your light must shine before others, that they may see your
good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Christian stewards
allow the light of Christ to shine through them to reach
others. A good reflection question for the week: In what ways
do we allow the light of Christ to shine through us?
Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Weekend of February 12/13
In today’s Gospel, part of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
does not speak of replacing the law of the Old Testament.
He goes beyond it. He obliges his followers to work at being
holier than even the strictest of Pharisees. But the work
is not accomplished by following a religious “law”, it requires
growing in love for other human beings. Followers of
Jesus know they are required to be good stewards of others.
In what way will you exercise good stewardship over other
people this week?
Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Weekend of February 19/20
In another passage from his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
continues to turn his disciples’ way of thinking upsidedown.
One of the lessons for the Christian steward in today’s
Gospel is that if we have a chance to help someone
in need, we should be generous and give more than is expected
of us. Jesus went “the extra mile” for us. Can we be
more like Jesus and “go the extra mile” for others?
Eighth Week in Ordinary Time, Weekend of February 26/27
Saint Paul reminds us as baptized Christians, as those who
have shared the Eucharist with one another, that we are
“servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
We are not to define ourselves by our age, ethnicity, gender,
social status, work, vocation or avocation. Our primary
self-understanding should be that of servants and stewards
of the Lord and all that has been entrusted to us. Can we
accept this self-understanding? Do we find it encouraging?
Jesus said to his followers “You are the light of the world…
your light must shine before others, that they may see your
good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” Christian stewards
allow the light of Christ to shine through them to reach
others. A good reflection question for the week: In what ways
do we allow the light of Christ to shine through us?
Sixth Week in Ordinary Time, Weekend of February 12/13
In today’s Gospel, part of his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
does not speak of replacing the law of the Old Testament.
He goes beyond it. He obliges his followers to work at being
holier than even the strictest of Pharisees. But the work
is not accomplished by following a religious “law”, it requires
growing in love for other human beings. Followers of
Jesus know they are required to be good stewards of others.
In what way will you exercise good stewardship over other
people this week?
Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, Weekend of February 19/20
In another passage from his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
continues to turn his disciples’ way of thinking upsidedown.
One of the lessons for the Christian steward in today’s
Gospel is that if we have a chance to help someone
in need, we should be generous and give more than is expected
of us. Jesus went “the extra mile” for us. Can we be
more like Jesus and “go the extra mile” for others?
Eighth Week in Ordinary Time, Weekend of February 26/27
Saint Paul reminds us as baptized Christians, as those who
have shared the Eucharist with one another, that we are
“servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.”
We are not to define ourselves by our age, ethnicity, gender,
social status, work, vocation or avocation. Our primary
self-understanding should be that of servants and stewards
of the Lord and all that has been entrusted to us. Can we
accept this self-understanding? Do we find it encouraging?
Friday, December 31, 2010
Msgr. Thomas McGread: Follow the Leaders
I wrote about how Jesus called the first disciples to service and how He calls us in much the same way today. Here, I would like to examine that a bit further. It is important for us to remember that we profess the same Faith they did so many years ago, faith in Jesus Christ our Lord, that we are disciples of the same Lord, and that, as such, we bear witness to the one and the same Gospel that they did. There is no disconnect. It is one Faith. We are one Church. And if we pay great attention to the examples that the apostles set before us, we will learn a great deal.
If we examine the passage in Mark’s Gospel in which Jesus specifies the 12, it is clear that He called them forth for a specific purpose; He appointed them for a vital role in His salvific mission. They were called to be leaders.
Mark 3:14-15 tells us, “He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) that they might be with Him and He might send them forth to preach and to drive out demons.”
In other words, through His calling, they would have the authority and even the responsibility to take part in Jesus’ own ministry in a very special way. Their own ministry, then, would call more men and women to Jesus. Today, we know them as our bishops. They are the head shepherds of our dioceses, and as such, they lead us on the journey of Faith. They preach and teach and heal us through the Sacraments. They are true leaders, just like the first 12.
You may be wondering what all this talk about the apostles and the current day bishops has to do with you. After all, most of you reading this are not bishops, many of you may not even be priests, but many of you are parish leaders in one way or another. So, you can and should relate to the calling of the 12 in a special way. Just like the 12 apostles, God has called each one of us for a specific purpose, and, just like the 12, we each play a vital role in the mission of Jesus here on Earth. As leaders we will stand in the forefront of things, working to guide and direct our parishioners, helping to assist our pastors as they carry out their ministry, leading one or another ministry at the parish and more.
Closer examination of some of the apostles’ personal calls will help us see how we can most effectively live our own calls to be leaders today.
In Matthew 5:18-22, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, telling them, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
He called James and John in the same way, and all four men dropped their nets and answered the call.
Notice, in that simple call, those men, who were called to an important role of leadership in the Church were called not simply to lead but, much more importantly, to follow. And they did just that. They “Left their boat and their father and followed Him” (Mt. 4:22).
We all ought to cling to their example as we strive to carry out our own personal calls. Sure, we have a responsibility to lead people in the ways of discipleship, and our roles as parish leaders – as clergy and lay leaders – are vital as we strive to form good stewards, but as leaders we must, first and foremost, be followers. We must follow the great leader. Remember, we are His disciples. We are not trying to gain disciples for ourselves. We are trying to call more men and women to Him. It is only when we follow His lead, only when we live to serve Him, that our own leadership will bear great fruit.
Source: Copyright © 2010 www.THECATHOLICSTEWARD.com Used by permission.
If we examine the passage in Mark’s Gospel in which Jesus specifies the 12, it is clear that He called them forth for a specific purpose; He appointed them for a vital role in His salvific mission. They were called to be leaders.
Mark 3:14-15 tells us, “He appointed twelve (whom He also named apostles) that they might be with Him and He might send them forth to preach and to drive out demons.”
In other words, through His calling, they would have the authority and even the responsibility to take part in Jesus’ own ministry in a very special way. Their own ministry, then, would call more men and women to Jesus. Today, we know them as our bishops. They are the head shepherds of our dioceses, and as such, they lead us on the journey of Faith. They preach and teach and heal us through the Sacraments. They are true leaders, just like the first 12.
You may be wondering what all this talk about the apostles and the current day bishops has to do with you. After all, most of you reading this are not bishops, many of you may not even be priests, but many of you are parish leaders in one way or another. So, you can and should relate to the calling of the 12 in a special way. Just like the 12 apostles, God has called each one of us for a specific purpose, and, just like the 12, we each play a vital role in the mission of Jesus here on Earth. As leaders we will stand in the forefront of things, working to guide and direct our parishioners, helping to assist our pastors as they carry out their ministry, leading one or another ministry at the parish and more.
Closer examination of some of the apostles’ personal calls will help us see how we can most effectively live our own calls to be leaders today.
In Matthew 5:18-22, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, telling them, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”
He called James and John in the same way, and all four men dropped their nets and answered the call.
Notice, in that simple call, those men, who were called to an important role of leadership in the Church were called not simply to lead but, much more importantly, to follow. And they did just that. They “Left their boat and their father and followed Him” (Mt. 4:22).
We all ought to cling to their example as we strive to carry out our own personal calls. Sure, we have a responsibility to lead people in the ways of discipleship, and our roles as parish leaders – as clergy and lay leaders – are vital as we strive to form good stewards, but as leaders we must, first and foremost, be followers. We must follow the great leader. Remember, we are His disciples. We are not trying to gain disciples for ourselves. We are trying to call more men and women to Him. It is only when we follow His lead, only when we live to serve Him, that our own leadership will bear great fruit.
Source: Copyright © 2010 www.THECATHOLICSTEWARD.com Used by permission.
Stewardshp Bulletin Reflection
Jesus came to St. John the Baptist to share the baptism of repentance for sin that John was performing in the Jordan River. John protested that Jesus did not need the baptism for he had no sin, but Jesus insisted. He wanted to identify himself with our sinful humanity as he was going to be the sacrifice for our sin. After the baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus and the voice of God the Father proclaimed him his beloved Son.
After the baptism, Jesus began his public ministry, and as St. Peter declared, “He went about doing good.” We who have been reborn as God’s adopted children in sacramental Baptism are called to live a new life and imitate the example of Jesus. This includes using the time, the talent, and the treasure entrusted to us to serve our Lord and his people, not just for our own benefit.
After the baptism, Jesus began his public ministry, and as St. Peter declared, “He went about doing good.” We who have been reborn as God’s adopted children in sacramental Baptism are called to live a new life and imitate the example of Jesus. This includes using the time, the talent, and the treasure entrusted to us to serve our Lord and his people, not just for our own benefit.
Stewardship Reflection for January 9, 2011
January 9, 2011 – The Baptism of the Lord
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17
On the face of it, Jesus’ baptism by St. John the Baptist would seem to have been unnecessary. At least, that’s how it seemed to John. The baptism he proclaimed, as we heard in Advent, was a baptism of repentance for those who acknowledged their sins. Matthew 3 tells us that John objected that Jesus ought to be baptizing him, rather than the other way around, for he recognized that Jesus had no sins for which to repent.
But Jesus insisted, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” In order to achieve God’s saving plan for humanity, Jesus needed to identify himself with us sinners.
However, more happens at the Jordan than Jesus’ identification of himself with the human condition. Here he undergoes his final preparation to begin his public ministry. The Holy Spirit descents in visible form upon him, and the Father proclaims Jesus as his beloved Son, which fulfills the Servant Song of the prophet Isaiah (42:1), “… my chosen one with whom I am pleased.” As Peter proclaimed, “You know…what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good… for God was with him” (Acts 10:36-38)
But there is a difference between the baptism St. John performed at the Jordan River and the sacrament of Baptism established by Jesus after his Resurrection. The baptism of the Baptist was a public admission that one was a sinner and a declaration of repentance but in itself did not provide the hoped-for forgiveness. After Jesus’ Crucifixion as the sacrifice for our sins and his Resurrection as a triumph over the powers of death, the baptism he instituted conveys the grace that effects what it symbolizes.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it (537), “Through Baptism the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in his own baptism anticipates his death and resurrection. The Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father’s beloved son in the Son and ‘walk in newness of life’ (Rom 6:4).”
What difference does this make to us? It makes all the difference in the world! Having been reborn as God’s adopted children through Baptism, we also share in the power that the Holy Spirit gives. We’re not to let anyone, least of all ourselves, confuse us with Jesus Christ himself. But walking in newness of life, we are called to imitate Jesus and go about doing good.
And that is the key to good stewardship. Walking in newness of life means that we view every aspect of our situation – our job, our family, our community – in a different way than those who live with themselves as the centers of their life. And in response to this new life, we use our time, our talent, and our treasure for doing good as the Father’s beloved children.
Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-38; Matthew 3:13-17
On the face of it, Jesus’ baptism by St. John the Baptist would seem to have been unnecessary. At least, that’s how it seemed to John. The baptism he proclaimed, as we heard in Advent, was a baptism of repentance for those who acknowledged their sins. Matthew 3 tells us that John objected that Jesus ought to be baptizing him, rather than the other way around, for he recognized that Jesus had no sins for which to repent.
But Jesus insisted, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” In order to achieve God’s saving plan for humanity, Jesus needed to identify himself with us sinners.
However, more happens at the Jordan than Jesus’ identification of himself with the human condition. Here he undergoes his final preparation to begin his public ministry. The Holy Spirit descents in visible form upon him, and the Father proclaims Jesus as his beloved Son, which fulfills the Servant Song of the prophet Isaiah (42:1), “… my chosen one with whom I am pleased.” As Peter proclaimed, “You know…what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good… for God was with him” (Acts 10:36-38)
But there is a difference between the baptism St. John performed at the Jordan River and the sacrament of Baptism established by Jesus after his Resurrection. The baptism of the Baptist was a public admission that one was a sinner and a declaration of repentance but in itself did not provide the hoped-for forgiveness. After Jesus’ Crucifixion as the sacrifice for our sins and his Resurrection as a triumph over the powers of death, the baptism he instituted conveys the grace that effects what it symbolizes.
As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it (537), “Through Baptism the Christian is sacramentally assimilated to Jesus, who in his own baptism anticipates his death and resurrection. The Christian must enter into this mystery of humble self-abasement and repentance, go down into the water with Jesus in order to rise with him, be reborn of water and the Spirit so as to become the Father’s beloved son in the Son and ‘walk in newness of life’ (Rom 6:4).”
What difference does this make to us? It makes all the difference in the world! Having been reborn as God’s adopted children through Baptism, we also share in the power that the Holy Spirit gives. We’re not to let anyone, least of all ourselves, confuse us with Jesus Christ himself. But walking in newness of life, we are called to imitate Jesus and go about doing good.
And that is the key to good stewardship. Walking in newness of life means that we view every aspect of our situation – our job, our family, our community – in a different way than those who live with themselves as the centers of their life. And in response to this new life, we use our time, our talent, and our treasure for doing good as the Father’s beloved children.
Stewardship Reflection for January 2, 2011
The Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi, who were non-Jews, to worship the child Jesus. It is thus a missionary feast because Jesus is not only the Jewish Messiah but also the Savior of the whole human race.
But the Epiphany is a stewardship celebration, as well, for the Magi did not come empty-handed. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to offer him. Gold represents the Treasure that we present to our spiritual King for the spread of the Kingdom of God. Frankincense symbolizes our Time that we devote to prayer and the worship of God. And myrrh conveys our willingness to offer our Talent to serve others, for it is used in preparing bodies for burial, a service the Church has identified for centuries as one of the corporal works of mercy.
The Epiphany, then, challenges us to be good Christian stewards and to bring our time, talent, and treasure to worship Jesus, just as the Magi did, and to invite others to join us in worship.
But the Epiphany is a stewardship celebration, as well, for the Magi did not come empty-handed. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to offer him. Gold represents the Treasure that we present to our spiritual King for the spread of the Kingdom of God. Frankincense symbolizes our Time that we devote to prayer and the worship of God. And myrrh conveys our willingness to offer our Talent to serve others, for it is used in preparing bodies for burial, a service the Church has identified for centuries as one of the corporal works of mercy.
The Epiphany, then, challenges us to be good Christian stewards and to bring our time, talent, and treasure to worship Jesus, just as the Magi did, and to invite others to join us in worship.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
A STEWARDSHIP PRAYER for Thanksgiving
Gracious and loving God,
As the autumn season continues its transformation;
and the days become shorter,
the earth cooler;
as we join family and friends
in joy and celebration
on Thanksgiving Day,
we pause to give You thanks and praise
for the abundant blessings
You have bestowed upon us:
For life and health,
safety and comfort,
food and nourishment.
Through your Spirit, open our hearts
so that we may be even better stewards
of Your many blessings.
Show us how to be a blessing
for the poor, sick, lonely and all who suffer.
And help us nurture the gift of faith,
revealed to us by your Son, Jesus Christ,
our greatest gift,
who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Amen.
As the autumn season continues its transformation;
and the days become shorter,
the earth cooler;
as we join family and friends
in joy and celebration
on Thanksgiving Day,
we pause to give You thanks and praise
for the abundant blessings
You have bestowed upon us:
For life and health,
safety and comfort,
food and nourishment.
Through your Spirit, open our hearts
so that we may be even better stewards
of Your many blessings.
Show us how to be a blessing
for the poor, sick, lonely and all who suffer.
And help us nurture the gift of faith,
revealed to us by your Son, Jesus Christ,
our greatest gift,
who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever.
Amen.
In Gratitude For Our Parishes
During the month of November let us remember to include our parish when we express gratitude for the abundant gifts we have been given. Our parishes are great blessings because they are witnessing communions of faith, signs of Christ’s active presence in the world.
Our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, once described a parish as a “family of families.” If we accept that the parish is a family, then surely it takes on the characteristics of a family. And just like a family, the gift of the Holy Spirit to our parishes is the many different talents and temperaments we find in the pews, parish house and parking lot. They become great strengths when we are united in building up the Body of Christ.
The mission of our parish is to continue the work of Jesus Christ, who expressed his own ministry resolutely: “I must proclaim the Kingdom of God” (Lk 4:43). The parish is a steward of this ongoing ministry, and as members of a parish family we too are stewards of Christ’s work. That is why it is so important to be nourished by the Eucharist regularly and to participate fully in the great prophetic witness of the parish: to offer our time, assist in one or more of the many parish ministries, invite others into our parish life of faith, carry our share of financial responsibility for the parish, and celebrate when our parish family celebrates.
Remember as well our pastors and those other priests and pastoral professionals who seek to nourish us with the Bread of Life and to help us understand more fully our faith and the actions which spring from that faith.
The life of faith we experience in our parishes is not perfect. What family is perfect? Our parish never has been and never will be perfect because we are not perfect. But part of what we share in our parish is Christ’s love which is perfect. The love that we share is a gospel that has been given to us to live and proclaim in word and deed. It is a gospel that gives us hope. For that we should be grateful.
Our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, once described a parish as a “family of families.” If we accept that the parish is a family, then surely it takes on the characteristics of a family. And just like a family, the gift of the Holy Spirit to our parishes is the many different talents and temperaments we find in the pews, parish house and parking lot. They become great strengths when we are united in building up the Body of Christ.
The mission of our parish is to continue the work of Jesus Christ, who expressed his own ministry resolutely: “I must proclaim the Kingdom of God” (Lk 4:43). The parish is a steward of this ongoing ministry, and as members of a parish family we too are stewards of Christ’s work. That is why it is so important to be nourished by the Eucharist regularly and to participate fully in the great prophetic witness of the parish: to offer our time, assist in one or more of the many parish ministries, invite others into our parish life of faith, carry our share of financial responsibility for the parish, and celebrate when our parish family celebrates.
Remember as well our pastors and those other priests and pastoral professionals who seek to nourish us with the Bread of Life and to help us understand more fully our faith and the actions which spring from that faith.
The life of faith we experience in our parishes is not perfect. What family is perfect? Our parish never has been and never will be perfect because we are not perfect. But part of what we share in our parish is Christ’s love which is perfect. The love that we share is a gospel that has been given to us to live and proclaim in word and deed. It is a gospel that gives us hope. For that we should be grateful.
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for November 28, 2010
Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44
Isaiah, St. Paul, and Jesus all give the same central message in the readings for today. There will be a judgment, when God will establish his Kingdom fully. We don’t know when that will be, so we need to stay awake and be alert.
That is not a call to despair, but a warning. If we wake from our spiritual slumber, we can use the time, the talent, and the treasure entrusted to us so we can make a good return to God. Then we need not fear when we face Jesus Christ, our merciful and loving Judge. But the choice is ours, whether we want to exercise watchful care, or drift along in a slumber of spiritual complacency.
Source: The Catholic Steward, November 2010
Isaiah, St. Paul, and Jesus all give the same central message in the readings for today. There will be a judgment, when God will establish his Kingdom fully. We don’t know when that will be, so we need to stay awake and be alert.
That is not a call to despair, but a warning. If we wake from our spiritual slumber, we can use the time, the talent, and the treasure entrusted to us so we can make a good return to God. Then we need not fear when we face Jesus Christ, our merciful and loving Judge. But the choice is ours, whether we want to exercise watchful care, or drift along in a slumber of spiritual complacency.
Source: The Catholic Steward, November 2010
Friday, November 5, 2010
November Stewardship
A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of November 6/7
In today’s second reading, Saint Paul offers encouragement to the Christian community and prays that the Lord instill encouragement in their hearts. There is nothing worse than discouragement to drain people spiritually and emotionally. Yet, at times, it is much easier to lose patience with others and offer critical and discouraging words. We are "our brothers’ (and sisters’) keepers." We are stewards of our relationships with others. Offering encouragement is essential to the exercise of that stewardship. Saint Paul understood that God worked through him just as God works through us to encourage others. How often do we ask the Lord for encouragement? How often do we look for opportunities to affirm, strengthen and encourage others in our daily lives?
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of November 13/14
In today’s gospel Jesus tells his followers there will be plenty of time for them to bear witness to what he taught and did. He helped them understand that the Holy Spirit would guide them and help them persevere in their own stewardship of his gospel even when friends and family betrayed them. Do our friends and neighbors, or classmates and colleagues, know we are disciples of Jesus Christ? How do we bear witness to Christ each day? Do we hide our faith out of fear of rejection? Or are we bold in our witness to others? Are we good stewards of Christ’s gospel?
The Solemnity of Christ the King Weekend of November 20/21
Today we listen to the humble confession of Saint Dismas, the good thief; a confession that brought him mercy, forgiveness and great favor by the Lord. What can his humility teach those who seek to be good stewards? That we must give up our self-importance, our self-centeredness, and learn to give ourselves over to God? That God has entrusted us with everything we have as gift to be used in God’s service? That we treat others not with arrogance, sarcasm or put down, but with reverence and respect as gifts from God? Is it by recognizing that God is the center of the universe, not us, and that only Christ the King can bring us genuine peace and salvation?
Thanksgiving Day November 25, 2010
In today’s first reading, we listened to a beautiful stewardship blessing from the Book of Sirach: "And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth. May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; may God’s goodness toward us endure as long as the heavens are above." On this Thanksgiving Day, our thoughts invariably turn to preparing for our annual celebration with family and friends. Perhaps this simple blessing could serve as an appropriate stewardship reflection on our gratitude for the Lord’s abundant goodness, and be our prayer during this Thanksgiving weekend.
Source: November 2010 International Catholic Stewardship Council Newsletter
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of November 6/7
In today’s second reading, Saint Paul offers encouragement to the Christian community and prays that the Lord instill encouragement in their hearts. There is nothing worse than discouragement to drain people spiritually and emotionally. Yet, at times, it is much easier to lose patience with others and offer critical and discouraging words. We are "our brothers’ (and sisters’) keepers." We are stewards of our relationships with others. Offering encouragement is essential to the exercise of that stewardship. Saint Paul understood that God worked through him just as God works through us to encourage others. How often do we ask the Lord for encouragement? How often do we look for opportunities to affirm, strengthen and encourage others in our daily lives?
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Weekend of November 13/14
In today’s gospel Jesus tells his followers there will be plenty of time for them to bear witness to what he taught and did. He helped them understand that the Holy Spirit would guide them and help them persevere in their own stewardship of his gospel even when friends and family betrayed them. Do our friends and neighbors, or classmates and colleagues, know we are disciples of Jesus Christ? How do we bear witness to Christ each day? Do we hide our faith out of fear of rejection? Or are we bold in our witness to others? Are we good stewards of Christ’s gospel?
The Solemnity of Christ the King Weekend of November 20/21
Today we listen to the humble confession of Saint Dismas, the good thief; a confession that brought him mercy, forgiveness and great favor by the Lord. What can his humility teach those who seek to be good stewards? That we must give up our self-importance, our self-centeredness, and learn to give ourselves over to God? That God has entrusted us with everything we have as gift to be used in God’s service? That we treat others not with arrogance, sarcasm or put down, but with reverence and respect as gifts from God? Is it by recognizing that God is the center of the universe, not us, and that only Christ the King can bring us genuine peace and salvation?
Thanksgiving Day November 25, 2010
In today’s first reading, we listened to a beautiful stewardship blessing from the Book of Sirach: "And now, bless the God of all, who has done wondrous things on earth. May he grant you joy of heart and may peace abide among you; may God’s goodness toward us endure as long as the heavens are above." On this Thanksgiving Day, our thoughts invariably turn to preparing for our annual celebration with family and friends. Perhaps this simple blessing could serve as an appropriate stewardship reflection on our gratitude for the Lord’s abundant goodness, and be our prayer during this Thanksgiving weekend.
Source: November 2010 International Catholic Stewardship Council Newsletter
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