Category: Parish Renewal

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s Gospel from John includes the story of the Miracle at the Wedding Feast in Cana. The wedding feast in Cana is always the Gospel reading for this Sunday because it is there that Christ is revealed. The last sentence in John’s Gospel (Jn 2:11) is “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” This is his first sign, and as stated, it “revealed his glory.” For His disciples, you might say this was the “clincher,” and they “began to believe in him.”

Although today is the Second Sunday in Ordinary time, “ordinary” does not mean “commonplace.” In its usage by the Church it stems from two Latin words — ordinalis, which means numbers listed in order, and ordo which means order. Ordinary Time is merely a reminder to us that the Church has order, and that we are expected to approach our faith in an ordered and consistent way.

In the second reading from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, Paul explains and defines what stewardship really is. “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit.”  Each of us is gifted in some special way. And all of our gifts are to be used to build the Kingdom of God. If we truly believe, we need to live out our lives in the way once described by the late Archbishop Thomas Murphy, who said, “We all possess certain talents and gifts which are unique only to us. You already have what you need to start living an extraordinary life. It is up to you to let your light shine.”

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today — the Baptism of the Lord—is also the First Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus’ Baptism Feast is placed here by the Church because it is an important part of what has been revealed and taught to us during Christmas.

Last week we spoke of the meaning of Epiphany — a “manifestation” or “revealing.” Christ’s Baptism, as described in the Gospel of Luke in today’s readings, represents one of the Theophanies. An Epiphany is a manifestation, but a Theophany is the manifestation of God Himself. During this Christmas season and the week after it, we celebrate four theophanies: 1. The birth of Christ on December 25, which revealed Christ to Israel; 2. The visit of the Magi on Epiphany, which revealed Christ to the Gentiles; 3. The Baptism of the Lord, which revealed the Trinity; and 4. The miracle at the wedding of Cana, which revealed Christ’s transformation to the world. (Next week’s Gospel is the miracle at Cana.)

Jesus’ Baptism is even more than a revelation to us. If He, Who had no need of this purifying act, humbly subjected Himself to it, then we, most in need of redemption, can recognize both the importance of this sacrament, as well as recognizing how we are freed from darkness. Jesus was not Baptized because He needed it, but because we needed it.

The Baptism of the Lord marks the official end of Christmas. Most churches do not dismantle their Christmas decorations until after this Feast Day. As Catholics perhaps we, too, should follow that example — to let everyone know that Christmas does not end with Christmas Day, but with the culmination of our understanding as to Who Christ is.

 

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

The story of the Magi — the Three Kings — is one of the most endearing and most familiar to all Catholics. Because they brought gifts, it is also the focus of many stewardship commentaries. In addition, it may be one of the more misunderstood stories around the birth of Jesus.

Epiphany is a word with Greek origins that means “manifestation.” We celebrate Epiphany because it represents the realization (related to the appearance and visit of the Magi to the Christ child) that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, for the Gentiles as well as the Jews.

The visit of the Magi to the child Jesus is reported only in Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew never states that there were three — that is an assumption which has been made based upon the three gifts. Traditional representations of their visit place them in the stable where Jesus was born. Matthew, on the other hand, makes reference to the Magi visiting the Holy Family in their house — which would imply they may have come to Nazareth, not to Bethlehem.

In fact, it does not matter how we interpret the specifics of the visit of these men “from the East.” The stewardship aspects of this story present us a real view of what is expected of us as stewards. The visitors from the East made valuable gifts to the Holy Family — gifts with a value which may have represented a sacrifice on their part. Furthermore, the gifts were given at a time when the Holy Family had a need — they were preparing to flee to Egypt. The generosity of the Magi may have been the instrument which allowed them to do that. Being from a distant land, these “wise men” acknowledge that Christ is the Savior of all lands and all peoples. Near the end of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that nations will be judged not just on how they treat Him, but on how they treat His brothers and sisters in need — a definite call to stewardship.

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

As we might expect on this Feast of the Holy Family, the readings focus on family matters. In fact, they offer a blueprint for family stewardship. The concept of stewardship within a family is closely related to how family members treat one another — how they show respect and love for one another.

The first reading from the Book of Sirach makes it quite clear that children are called to honor, revere, care for, and be kind to their father and mother. Of course, this is a manifestation of the commandment with which we are so familiar — Honor thy Father and Mother. Stewardship is synonymous with love. Thus, although the children are called to love in this way, it is also strongly implied that the father and mother are also called to love and revere one another and their children.

“And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man.” We do not know much about the life of Jesus between his birth and the beginning of His ministry. We are presented with one vignette of His youth, however, in the Gospel reading from Luke. Under Jewish tradition a boy became a Bar Mitzvah (which means Son of the Commandment) at the age of 13. Prior to that step into maturity and adulthood a boy was expected to study, listen, and question at the Temple one or two years earlier. That is what Mary and Joseph and Jesus were pursuing in this Gospel passage — they were following the customs of the day. About this time in His life we might say, “The child became a man.”

The Holy Family is an ideal we as people cannot replicate. Nevertheless, it is clear that family life, like the virtues of love and kindness and humility and forgiveness, requires constant effort. Nothing in life is necessarily easy. Being a unified and loving family has rewards beyond our comprehension.

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today — Gaudete Sunday, the Third Sunday in Advent — is a time to rejoice! Everything, from the lighting of the rose-colored candle, to the consistent use of the words JOY and REJOICE in the readings, points to being called to joyfully proclaim the imminent coming of Jesus.
Often people who practice stewardship as a way of life are called a “joyous people.” That is a natural reflection and a natural phrase to use with people of stewardship because, based upon living their lives as grateful people, they focus on their blessings, not their Crosses and burdens. When one sees the good sides of life and living, it is difficult not to be happy.
Our task as Catholics is to focus much of the energy and excitement which seems to come with this season into what we are really celebrating — the arrival of Christ. Advent is about hope. It is not just hope that things will get better or hope that our burdens will disappear.  It is hope that there is meaning to our lives. It is the hope and understanding that there is an incredible existence beyond our human state. It is the hope that our lives are not as limited as they may seem to be. We must never forget what we heard in a Gospel passage of a few weeks ago: “All things are possible with God.”  After all, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s scripture readings remind us that as we celebrate the Advent season and await the celebration of Christmas, we are to do so actively – boldly proclaiming the Lord’s praises and giving Him glory in the way we live our lives. Advent is a season of waiting, but the wait is not a passive one. Rather, we are called to be actively preparing the meet the Savior, readying our hearts and our minds for His coming.

The gospel for today encourages us, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight His paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight and the rough made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

But how do we do so? We live our lives for the Lord. We offer Him ourselves in gratitude for the many things He has given us and the many things He has done, and, in so doing, we proclaim His greatness to the world, helping others come to recognize His wonder and His majesty.

“Bear on your head the mitre that displays the glory of the eternal name. For God will show all the earth your splendor: you will be named by God forever the peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.”

This Advent season offers us a time to reassess how well we are living for God. Is it obvious to everyone we meet that we are stewards of God’s many gifts? Does the way we use what the Lord has given us proclaim His praises to the world? Are we ready to greet Him – both as we celebrate Christmas and when we meet Him face-to-face when He comes again? Or is there more we can do?

 

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. He is the greatest king there is yet He does not sit on a golden throne. He hangs on a cross. As the King of Kings, Jesus hows us what true greatness is. It is loving and serving one another, giving ourselves in love for one another, and using the gifts God has given us to glorify Him.

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Likewise, we are called to use the lives God has given us to testify to the truth. We are called to bear witness to the gospel by the way we live our lives, giving of our time, our talents and our treasure to serve the Lord by serving one another. Then, people will surely see God in us, and we will call others to Him.

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s readings draw our attention to the final judgment. The end will come. “Heaven and Earth will pass away,” and though “of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father,” we do know that it will come. And each one of us will stand face-to-face with our creator. Will He be pleased with how we’ve lived, and with what we’ve done with the many gifts He’s given us?

Today’s apocalyptic Gospel message offers us a great opportunity to reflect on the meaning of our lives. We know that we were not created to live our lives on Earth forever. We were created to live for God, to live in unity with Him. Our lives in heaven will consist of perfect unity with God; our whole being will be centered on loving and praising Him. Yet, there is no reason for that to wait until we’ve entered eternal glory. In fact, it cannot wait. While we look forward to the day when we will greet the Lord, while we know that heaven is our home, that eternal glory is our goal, we are charged to live in the present. God has placed us here for a reason. He has a mission for each one of us, and He expects us to make good use of the time He has given us on Earth — to praise Him in the way we live our lives, to unite ourselves with Him in the sacraments, and to show forth His glory by serving others in His name.

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s gospel offers us a great lesson in the stewardship way of life. Mark tells us that Jesus sat and watched as many people money into the treasury. And while he watched many wealthy men give enormous amounts of money, it was one widow who gave but two small coins who caught His attention. At first glance it seems clear that she did not give as much as the many wealthy people. Yet, Jesus assured the disciples, “she gave the most” because while the others were giving out of their surplus, she was giving of her first fruits. She was giving everything she had. For her, the gift was a sacrifice.

She stands as a great example to us. We are called to give our all. We give not because we have extra left over like many of the wealthy people in today’s gospel, we give – of our time, our talents, and our treasure, because we want to show God how grateful we are for all He has given us.

How well do our commitments of time, talent, and treasure express our gratitude to God? Are we giving because it’s easy, because we have a surplus from which to give, or are we giving because we are grateful for God’s many gifts, and, therefore, offering our whole selves back to Him?

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

“You shall love The Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. … You shall love your neighbor as yourself. No other commandment is greater than these.”
Love — that is what the life of Christian stewardship is all about. In an effort to show God our immense gratitude for the love and care that He continually bestows on us, we give our lives to Him in loving service. We love and serve one another as a response to God’s infinite love for every one of us.
That is what we were made for. That is the life we are called to. That is Christian discipleship lived through stewardship. It is constant self-giving in love of God and one another. Nothing else is more important!

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGSIn today’s gospel, we learn an incredible lesson about what happens when we act out in faith, even amidst opposing people.
The blind man (Bartimaeus) called out to Jesus, because he knew that Christ could heal Him, and He believed that Christ would. He had faith. And even when people around him tried to hush him, the man was not deterred. He continued to cry out with courage and conviction.
In turn, Jesus gave the man his sight back, and the gospel tells us that the man then followed Jesus “on the way.”
Christian discipleship begins with a faith response to Jesus. He has called us to Himself, and we must choose how we will respond. We must take ownership of the faith He has blessed us with and choose to live in faith, to live for Him — even when we face opposition.
We give Jesus our lives. We live boldly and courageously, giving our time, talents and treasure to serve Him, because, like Bartimaeus, we believe!

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Many of us often find ourselves seeking the recognition of the world. Like James and John in today’s gospel, we’d like to occupy a place of honor, to earn the respect of others, to be the best at what we do. These are the things the world tells us are important, and so we strive to attain them.
Yet, in today’s readings, the Lord calls us to bigger and better things. We are called to strive for greatness in His kingdom, not by looking out for ourselves but by loving and serving others – truly seeking nothing in return.
Jesus reminds us, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” And so we follow suit.
Our lives as Christian disciples should entail constant loving service, following the example of Christ and showing those around us Christ’s love. It is a much more worthy call than the life that the world calls us to – seeking honor, power and prestige in the here and now.
Pope Benedict XVI put it perfectly: “The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort, you were made for greatness.”
So, we are called to give of our time, our talent and our treasure, seeking the greatness that the Lord promises, a life eternally united to Him, the selfless servant par excellence!

 

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Listening to Jesus’ words in today’s gospel: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven,” many of us sat back in our seats and breathed a sigh of relief. We are not rich, and thank God. It must be easier for us to enter heaven. Right?

But the fact is, whether we are wealthy according to the world’s standards or not, Jesus’ words are meant for every single one of us. We are all very rich. God has given us innumerable gifts – our time, our talents, our treasure, our very lives are gifts from the Lord. We have so much, and as Christ’s disciples, we are called to give it all to the Lord – to use our time, our talents, and our treasure to serve God and build His kingdom.

Living a life of stewardship as a Christian disciple requires giving completely of one’s self. It means living our lives for the Lord and giving all we have and all we are to serve Him. This is not an easy task. It is radical. It is extreme. And it is richly rewarding.

At the end of today’s gospel, Jesus exclaims, “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come.”

Have you given all that you have to serve the Lord?

 

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

It’s no secret that married life isn’t easy. Most of us are living proof of that. It takes a great deal of commitment and constant self-giving love to truly live out the vocation.

But it is not just married life that requires such loving commitment and self sacrifice. The vocation of Christian discipleship, the vocation to which every one of us is called — married or single, clergy or layperson — requires that we give of ourselves in loving service, committing our lives to Christ forever. We give of our time, our talents, and our treasure as a way to show The Lord that we love Him and that we want to give our lives to Him. He has given us so much; it is an honor for us to give ourselves to Him in return.

It is not an easy task, especially when society is encouraging us to live selfishly, to want more and more things, to look out for ourselves before others, etc. Indeed, it is a higher calling to live for the Lord, to give rather than to want, and to lovingly put others first, and it is a life full of joyful rewards. In this, we will find true fulfillment!

 

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s readings lead us to reflect on the gifts we have been given, and the source of those gifts — God.

In the first reading and in the gospel, we hear of men who raise objections when they see others participating in God’s mission. Moses’ followers were appalled when they noticed that two men who were not among their company had been given the gift of prophecy. Surely prophesying was not their place. And, in the gospel reading, Jesus’ disciples objected to men who were casting out demons in Christ’s name.

In both cases, the objectors were assured that the men had been given gifts from God, and their decision to use those gifts to serve God’s kingdom was indeed a good thing.

The readings serve to remind us that every one of us has been given great gifts, and we are called to recognize those gifts, to receive them gratefully, and to use them in service of God and neighbor. When we do this, we participate in Christ’s own mission of loving service. He came to give Himself for us, and He has given us many gifts so that we can join Him in His earthly mission, using our gifts to proclaim His truth and serve one another.

What gifts has God given you? How are you using them? Do you find yourself caught up noticing the gifts others have been given and wondering about their proper use of them? Or, do you rejoice in the gifts God has given you and others and do your best to participate in the mission of the Church, serving God by giving yourself and your gifts back to Him in gratitude for all He has given you?

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Christian stewardship is all about selflessness. We are called to follow Christ’s example and give ourselves out of love for others and expect nothing in return.

In today’s gospel, we see Jesus explaining to the disciples that He must suffer and die. But they are confused. To them, the Messiah is one whom they praise and glorify, not one who suffers. So Jesus explains further.

His earthly mission is to give of Himself for our sake out of love. And He tells the disciples their mission as His followers is to do the same — to give of themselves expecting nothing in return.

So, we too, as present day disciples, follow the Lord’s example. We have all been called to be His disciples. Do we live the stewardship way of life, giving our time, our talent, and our treasure, in loving care of one another? Do we give of ourselves not because we want recognition, or because of the promise of earthly rewards, but because we are grateful to the Lord for giving Himself for us, and because we love both God and neighbor?

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

Today’s scripture readings focus heavily on the Lord’s almighty power and His love for all of us. In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah promises a savior who will heal the deaf, the blind, and the lame, and in the gospel, we see Jesus do just that. He heals a deaf man. But the message of today’s readings is not simply that God performs miracles (although we ought to recognize that He does). Today’s readings remind us of God’s infinite goodness. He loves and cares for each and every one of us in infant homage ways. He provides for all our needs. He gives us every good gift. He has come to save us all, offering every one of us everlasting life with Him – miracle of miracles.

We should, then, be like the people in Mark’s gospel who witnessed Christ’s healing of the blind man. They couldn’t keep their mouths shut. They were so awed by what He had done that they had to spread the good news! So should we. God has done so much for us, and He continues to. Our lives should be a witness to the world, proclaiming His praises to the ends of the earth. In the way we live our lives, in what we say and do, those we come into contact with ought to be able to see that God is good, that He loves each one of us, and that He is the source of all good gifts.

 

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

In today’s scripture readings, we reflect on how living as Christian disciples is not about just giving of ourselves – our time, our talents, and our treasure – so that we meet some obligation, or so that others see what we do and are pleased.

If that is our intention, then we are like the scribes and the Pharisees in today’s Gospel, whom Jesus calls hypocrites. We are called to give ourselves solely out of love – love of God and love of neighbor, recognizing that God is the great gift giver, and we are grateful to Him.

Life as a Christian steward must be lived with an attitude of gratitude. Everything we do must be done because we love the Lord.

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CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIP FROM SUNDAYS READINGS

In today’s readings, we focus on the Holy Eucharist. Jesus tells us, “For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
The Eucharist is, in fact, Jesus’ body and blood. It is not simply a symbol. It is real. Christ gives Himself, whole and entire, so that we might have life in Him.
It is our responsibility, then, not only to revere the Eucharist, recognizing its sacred nature, but to run to Christ in the Eucharist, to receive Him regularly and eagerly, with hearts burning to live for Him.
What’s more, today’s readings challenge us to ponder how we live our lives. In response to God’s gift of Himself, do we offer Him ourselves, whole and entire, in return?
St. Paul tells us, we are called to live for the Lord, “giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.”

 

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