Stewardship: A Way of Life

Stewardship is a spiritual and biblical way of life that orients us to be Christ-like in using everything we have and are in service to God and humanity. It's not just about giving or using our time, talent, and treasure; it's about being caretakers of God's gifts. We are called to accept gifts gratefully, nurture them responsibly, use gifts in loving service to others, and return gifts with interest to God.

Building on this foundation, we must regularly examine our faithfulness in using our time, talent, and treasure, as Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." Our mission is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them to obey God's commands. We must be prudent and resourceful in acquiring goodness, just like the steward in the gospel parable.

One powerful way to live out stewardship is through giving. Giving enriches both the giver and receiver, and liberates the soul. Saint Mother Teresa shared a powerful story about a beggar who approached her on the street, eager to give her 30 cents - his entire day's worth of money. Mother Teresa was touched by his generosity and recognized the dilemma: taking the money would leave him without food, but not taking it would hurt his feelings. She decided to accept the gift, and the beggar's face lit up with immense joy, thrilled that he could give to Mother Teresa. This encounter led Mother Teresa to reflect on the true value of giving, concluding that "God looks not at the size of the gift, but at the love with which it is given.”

Furthermore, generosity has numerous benefits. It deepens our trust in God's provision and care, like the widow's mite. It helps us develop selflessness, humility, and compassion, drawing us closer to God and bringing peace and contentment. Generosity also builds strong relationships with others, opens us up to receive more blessings from God, and stores treasure for ourselves in heaven. As Jesus reminds us, "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matthew 10:8). Let's remember that God cannot be outdone in generosity. As we give to Him and to others, He responds with even greater generosity, blessing us abundantly.

Dear parishioners, this stewardship Sunday invites us to prayerfully consider making a regular financial commitment to our parish, not from compulsion but out of love for God. While spontaneous giving is important, we are encouraged to make a planned regular contribution. This habit nurtures the spirit of discipline and trust in God’s provision. We can kick-start this stewardship by:

1.      Seeking God’s face in prayer on how much to offer regularly

2.      Planning to offer a percentage of your earnings, reviewing it regularly, and gradually increasing it.

3.      Using regular Sunday envelopes, online giving, or bank transfers

May God bless and guide us as we strive to live out stewardship as a way of life, using our time, talent, and treasure to serve God and humanity. May our regular financial commitments to our parish be an expression of our love for God and trust in His provision. May we give freely, joyfully, and generously, knowing that God responds with even greater generosity, blessing us abundantly.