Christian Stewardship
We rarely talk about Stewardship during Mass. It's one of those topics that's very personal and if handled incorrectly can be offensive. However, a thoughtful look at our opportunity to be of service to our parish and it's ministry can be a valuable and prayerful experience.
On my last birthday I met for dinner with an old friend. He's an airline pilot, so he was at LAX for a layover. He and his wife live in central California. I witnessed their Marriage and have Baptized both of their sons. Now one of the boys is in high school and the other in elementary school. They belong to a mid sized parish and because of the situation in their local public high school they have decided to send their oldest son to a Catholic High School about 20 miles from their home. It's a struggle, but they get it done.
We talked about the family's life in the Church and how the economy has made it difficult for most everyone. Since his wife is a "stay at home mom" they depend on his salary. He told me that his pastor had suggested that everyone in the parish donate one hour's wage per week to the parish. I smiled and said that we'd made the same suggestion here. He said "We just can't afford it." When we talked about why, he had some very valid points. So I asked "So, have you and Tammy talked about what you can afford?" They hadn't. So I suggested that they sit down and pray together and then decide what's best for their family.
That's good stewardship.
But what often happens, I believe, is that a Sunday donation is just whatever happens to be in the pocket on Sunday morning. For some, it's a random act which hasn't been prayed about or discussed at home. Sometimes it's too much, sometimes it's just a dollar tossed into a plate.
If we haven't done so yet (and I know many at St. Raymond Parish who have) let's take a few minutes to pray and then think, if we are alone, or discuss if we have a spouse, what is an appropriate donation to our parish each week. Good stewardship isn't about giving a lot of money, it's about doing God's will in our lives.
Here is a Scripture and prayer aid:
As the thumb touches all four fingers, so love should permeate my stewardship journey as a Christian.
RELATIONSHIP
Leviticus 26:12
God desires a close relationship with us. He loved us before we loved Him. Our relationship with God is not one of equals since He is the Owner and we are the stewards of His possessions.
OWNERSHIP
Psalm 24:1
God is the owner of everything and He has transferred dominion over His creation to us (Genesis 1:26). As faithful stewards, we understand that we have been assigned the management or stewardship of God’s possession. We are responsible to the Owner for the manner in which we conduct our stewardship responsibilities.
POSSESSIONS
Proverbs 3:9-10
Because God loves us He has blessed us with many possessions, such as time, talent, and treasure. The way we use our possessions demonstrates our love to Him. As faithful stewards, we must use our possessions for His glory, to benefit others, and not for personal gain.
SACRIFICE
Romans 12:1
The Hebrew word used in the Old Testament for sacrifice is “korban”, and it means to come close to God. Sin separated us from God, but Christ’s death on the cross, as the sacrifice for our sins, provided a way for us to come close to Him. As a Christian, living for Christ is our sacrifice to Him. When we use our possessions (time, talents, and treasures) to His glory and to benefit others, we signal to God, and to the world, our desire to have a close relationship with Him.
LOVE
John 15:9
God is love. Stewardship that is based on God’s love allows us to look beyond the faults of others while using our possessions to supply their needs (John 13:34,35). The thumb is the only finger that can touch all the other fingers, so our love for God and for our fellowmen must permeate all aspects of our stewardship experience. Stewardship is God's love in action.