This weekend our parish comes to celebrate its Stewardship Weekend. Our reading from the Prophet Isaiah reminds us of the abundance that God gives to us by providing for the needs of all peoples. Our Epistle also attests to this abundance where God comes to supply all our of needs. This realization is at the heart of stewardship for from the abundance that we receive we are to give.
When I say the word “stewardship” I believe that it leads many to being uncomfortable because we often equate stewardship solely with the giving of money. Therefore, it may be commented that the Church wants money again and I am sick and tired of hearing about it. The concept of stewardship may lead others to a spirit of anxiety because they only have so much that they can give and the Church is yet again asking for more. Others are ready to run for the doors with no intention to return again because they heard the dreaded word “stewardship.” All of you are still here, so hopefully we are safe to proceed.
It is my hope that we can change that understanding of stewardship and do away with these unnecessary anxieties that plague us whenever that word is mentioned. After all, stewardship is made up of not only money, but also of our time and talent. Sadly, in the minds of many concepts such as time and talent are not considered to be a form of stewardship because we are so transfixed upon that mindset of treasure. In other words, it is my hope that we may begin to see stewardship not as money, but instead as a way of life.
If we are to allow stewardship to become a way of life we need to grow in the four pillars which build up and support this way of life. These four pillars being: prayer, hospitality, formation, and service. Please note that one of these pillars is not how much money one gives to the Church.
Prayer is the first and foremost gift that we can give to God. It is prayer that connects us together and prayer that draws us closer to God. There is nothing more important than joining together for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass where Christ is made present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. As a parish outside of the confines of COVID-19 we have a perpetual adoration chapel which brings parishioners to kneel at the Feet of Jesus present with us in the Eucharist. The more we enter into prayer the more we come to hear and respond to the voice of God and to integrate this understanding of stewardship into who we are as a Christian disciple. It is for this reason that we will end our Stewardship Weekend with the public recitation of the rosary at 3:30pm.
Hospitality is important because we must be known as a parish who in the Rule of Saint Benedict, “Welcomes all guests as Christ.” The more welcoming that we can become to our guests, not only those who are new, but also those who have been here since day one, the easier it becomes for us to draw others into being engaged in the day to day life of our parish.
Formation is a pillar which builds up stewardship because it causes us to learn about the faith that we profess in order that we may share it with others and come to faithfully live it. How blessed we are to have a parish school which forms our youth in the faith. We also have other areas of education for adults as well as our youth. The more parishioners who are tuned into these programs and become more on fire for the faith the more we will grow as a parish community.
Service is the final pillar which is so important for it connects to the cross Christ and His sacrificial love which is made manifest from it. Service causes us to give out of love as Christ poured forth all out of love from the cross. Service includes our many volunteers who give of their time and talent to help build up our parish community. This weekend was chosen to be our Stewardship Weekend out of hope of it leading into our Fall Clean Up Day which gives us an opportunity to come together in a spirit of unity.
At this time I as pastor of Saint Mary Parish I thank each of you for your generous support to our parish community. I thank all of you who are good stewards to God’s many gifts to us. I thank those who have returned their appeal card and ask for those who have not done so to please send it in or bring it with you next week. If you are in need of an appeal card I ask that you speak with one of our ushers on your way out of Mass and they will get you an appeal card. May we come to realize that stewardship is not a bad word, but instead is a way of life. As disciples of the Lord may we come to embrace this way of life and come to integrate it into who we are as a human person.
