Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of March 18, 2012
March 18, 2012 – Fourth Sunday of Lent
2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23; Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6; Eph 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21
“For God so loved that world that He sent His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (John 3:16) This familiar verse which is a portion of today’s gospel reading speaks of a profound reality, a central truth of our Faith in which we wholeheartedly rejoice.
God the Father sent Christ into the world as a selfless, loving, life-giving gift to us and Christ, meanwhile, came willingly in order to give of Himself for our salvation.
How do we respond to such a gift?
We follow suit. We give of ourselves in utter gratitude to God. We recognize that He has given us gifts beyond measure, and we give Him our hearts and our whole lives. We live our lives in such a way that glorifies Him – lovingly serving one another. In so doing, we say “Thank you.”
Fr. Jim Golka: God’s Gift
Recently, I had the opportunity to travel to India with Fr. Antony Thekkekara, Fr. Mathew Thekkekara and Fr. Joe Hannapple. Both Fr. Antony and Fr. Mathew have spent time here at my parish, St. Patrick’s in North Platte, Neb., as associate pastors. We had a very aggressive itinerary as we went to eight cities in 10 days. We saw some wonderful sites like the Taj Mahal, the tomb of Mahatma Ghandi, the church built over the mortal remains of the Apostle Thomas, and some Hindu and Baha’i temples. We were able to ride elephants up a mountain to the Amber Fort in Jaipur. Fr. Mathew was not very fond of the elephant!
I’ve determined that India is mystical, magical and just plum crazy (at least the drivers on the streets are crazy). One of the mystical places that I experienced is the south-western state of Kerala. Kerala is tropical paradise. It is also home to many of the Catholics in India and is the home state of Fr. Antony and Fr. Mathew. Kerala was distinctive for its exceptional friendliness and courtesy of the people.
Here in Nebraska, we call our state “the Good Life.” Kerala has a wonderful self-understanding as they refer to their state as, “God’s Own Country.” I mentioned that the drivers are crazy as the roads are congested. As we passed throughout Kerala, I kept seeing vans and buses with signs located above the windshield which read, “God’s gift.” What a great way to appreciate your land and your possessions! (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: March 11, 2012
March 11, 2012 – Third Sunday of Lent
Ex 20:1-17; Ex 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11; 1 Cor 1:22-25; Jn 2:13-25
As Christian disciples, we want and need to know what to do in order to follow Christ. What does He expect from us?
In the first reading from the Book of Exodus, the Lord gives us a whole host of laws and precepts — You shall not have other Gods besides me. Keep holy the Sabbath. Honor your father and mother. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not covet your neighbor’s belongings. And so on. They are the Ten Commandments, and most of us are familiar with them. In fact, many of us likely use them as a guide when we prepare for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. They offer us a reference point for how to live according to God’s law just as they did for the Jews who first received them — putting God before all else and loving and serving our neighbor.
But the list of laws here is not an exhaustive one. They offer us a standard for living, but Jesus wants more. As Christian disciples, we must do more.
We look to the cross as our standard. We look to the cross as our “how-to” guide. In that act of total self-donation, in that act of utter selfishness and sacrificial love, Jesus shows us how to live. (more…)
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of March 11, 2012
March 11, 2012 – Third Sunday of Lent
Ex 20:1-17; Ex 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11; 1 Cor 1:22-25; Jn 2:13-25
In the gospel reading today, Jesus, upon seeing all the buying and selling that was taking place in the temple, flips over tables and throws coins to the ground. At first glance, his reaction seems a bit radical. As Mark tells it, Jesus even “made a whip out of chords.” Indeed, it is radical, and for good reason. Jesus wants to call the people’s attention to what’s important. He is angry that the temple has become a marketplace. Jesus’ reaction tells us just how important worshipping God really is. We simply must put him before all else, and we must live our lives accordingly.
Yet Jesus doesn’t tell us that and simply expect us to listen to Him. He takes it to heart in His own life here on Earth, putting the Father’s will above His own wants, even to the point of death. On the cross, Christ offers us an example of just how selfless we must be as Christian stewards. We are called to follow the Lord, and put His will for us before our own. It is, then, to the cross we look to discover what should be our way of life — a complete and total gift of ourselves to the Lord, offering our time, talents, and treasures to serve Him. And for some (those whom we call martyrs), this gift of self will involve a sacrifice to the point of death.
As St Paul reminds us in the second reading “there is great power in the cross.” When we respond to Christ’s call by following His example and giving ourselves completely in love and service to God and neighbor, we will feel incredibly fulfilled.
Fr. Michael Troha: Growing Closer to the Lord This Lent
Our Lenten season has arrived and the great feast of Easter is now less than 40 days away. The Easter Vigil is the greatest celebration of the year. Those adults preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist are welcomed into the Church at the Easter Vigil liturgy. I think that the vibrancy of any parish can be measured by the numbers of new members who come into the Church at the Easter Vigil.
For those of us who are already fully initiated into the Church by our Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist, the Lenten season is a grace-filled time of growing closer to the Lord. The traditional ways that we enter into the penitential season of Lent are through prayer, fasting and almsgiving. These are three ways that we open our hearts to what God is doing in our lives, experience God’s forgiveness and love, and then share that love with others. The word “penance” means “conversion.” So these three traditional ways of penance are three paths that lead us, or “turn us,” to a greater relationship with God.
When you think about it, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are closely allied with our three ways of entering into stewardship as a way of life. Our everyday commitment to share our time, talent and treasure are directly related to prayer, fasting and almsgiving. So as we begin our Lenten journey, may we all keep that spirit of conversion alive by fulfilling our stewardship commitments throughout the year.
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: March 4, 2012
March 4, 2012 – Second Sunday of Lent
Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10
Today, we focus on the cross. All three of today’s readings emphasize, for us, the importance of the cross and its redeeming power.
In the first reading, we hear the story of Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac. Isaac was his only son, the son for whom he and his wife had waited many years, and yet, because the Lord asked him to, Abraham was willing to give him up to death. Likewise in this story, Isaac, too, was willing. We don’t hear anything of his opposing the events. He was willing to give up his life, simply because God the Father asked him to.
Although the angel stopped Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, this story is clearly an Old Testament type of the crucifixion, when God the Father did, in fact, give His Son up for death – like a lamb to be slaughtered – and Jesus Christ, the Son, willingly assented to be killed.
In a lot of ways we can probably relate to Abraham’s near sacrifice of Isaac more so than to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. It is easy to think, “well, He is God.” but when we put ourselves in Abraham’s shoes it’s a powerful reality check. Imagine how it would feel, what it would be like to even consider having your child slaughtered. It’s remarkably gut wrenching – painful to even think about, and yet, that is just what God the Father did. He gave His only Son, allowing Him to suffer and die for our sake, because He knew that was the only way we human beings could attain salvation – God became man taking upon himself the sins of humanity and suffering the punishment for those sins. It is a gruesome reality. It is a painful reality, and, at the same time, it is a powerfully redemptive reality. Coupled with the resurrection it is the turning point of salvation history. (more…)
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of March 4, 2012
March 4, 2012 – Second Sunday of Lent
Gn 22:1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18; Ps 116:10, 15, 16-17, 18-19; Rom 8:31b-34; Mk 9:2-10
In today’s readings, we focus on the cross.
In the first reading, we hear the story of Abraham willing to sacrifice Isaac because the Lord asks him to. And then an angel intervenes telling Abraham to stop. His mere willingness showed the Lord that he is faithful.
It is hard to even imagine what Abraham and Isaac must have felt as they approached the impending sacrifice. It is gut-wrenching to even think about, and yet, as Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans, Christ Jesus did die for us. In him, what we see prefigured in Abraham and Isaac was done. The father gave his only Son like a lamb to be slaughtered, and the Son willingly offered Himself. Sometimes we look at the crucifixion and, while we marvel at the torture Jesus endured, it is easy to think, “But He is God,” and thereby minimize His agony. But when we consider the crucifixion together with Abraham and Isaac’s story, the pain of the suffering becomes that much more real. It is important to remember that God the Father did in fact offer His only Son up to death just as Abraham almost did. It is important to remember that while Jesus is indeed God, He is also man, and as such, He experienced the pain and agony of His torturous death. And He did it all for us. In the midst of all this, it is vital to understand that the cross, while utterly torturous, was and still is necessary for our salvation. Without the cross we wouldn’t know the glory of the resurrection.
This reality applies not only to Christ’s crucifixion on Calvary, but to the many crosses we ourselves bear through pain and suffering. Life is not easy. But when we unite our sufferings with Christ’s, they too can become redemptive. They allow us to grow closer to Christ and deeper in faith as we learn to rely on His grace.
This is what life as a Christian disciple is all about.
Jesus Himself tells us “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”
It doesn’t mean that carrying the crosses – dealing with the pain and sickness, trials and tribulations – will ever be easy. But when we deny ourselves and unite our sufferings with His, we will experience the glory of the resurrection in a deeply personal way. Christ will touch our lives and change us.
Fr. Dave Zimmer: The “Blessings” of Opportunities
A few years ago, I was one of approximately 400 pilgrims who filled a meeting room, eager to hear one of the parish priests of St. James Church in the town of Medjugorje speak. When the priest spoke, he talked about the daily life in his parish—one that has become a host to millions of pilgrims each year, all who come to find or strengthen their faith and restore their devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Despite the influx of travelers from all over the world, St. James is still a parish church; they have CCD, adult education, and celebration of the sacraments just like any other parish anywhere in the world. The priest described programs and activities that could have been any person’s parish who was sitting in that room.
St. James Church has developed a good religious education for the youth and they have the beginnings of a Catholic School. The humble priest made a comment that one day the children will have a gymnasium. The pastor didn’t dwell on the need for a facility such as this; he simply said that someday the children would have one. Up to this point, the priest had described the dedication and commitment of the people to the parish, especially in the celebration of sacraments. I personally witnessed that and still find it difficult to put into words what I saw and felt. But at this meeting with 400 pilgrims, the word “gymnasium” seemed to provoke a reaction. (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: February 26, 2012
February 26, 2012 – First Sunday of Lent
Gn 9:8-15; Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15
“Repent and believe in the gospel.”
These words are a familiar beginning to the Lenten Season. Year after year we hear them in the readings that initiate this season or during Ash Wednesday as the ashes are smeared on our forehead. They offer a gentle reminder of our sinful nature and our need for God’s saving grace. They are, therefore, appropriate to focus on as we enter the season of Lent and prepare to celebrate the greatest mystery of all time, the mystery through which our salvation was made possible — the passion, death, and ultimately the resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
Lent is a time when we focus in a particular way on our sinfulness. We recognize that it is because of the sins of humanity that Jesus had to suffer and die, and we fast and pray in an effort to make reparations for our sins. But we don’t celebrate this season filled with hopelessness and despair because of our sinful state. Rather, we are quite hopeful. We know that Christ did, in fact, die for our sins and then rise from the dead, offering us life everlasting. That’s the gospel message. That’s what we are called to believe. It is full of hope for us. (more…)
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of February 26, 2012
February 26, 2012 – First Sunday of Lent
Gn 9:8-15; Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Mk 1:12-15
Lent is upon us. This season of intense fasting and prayer offers us an opportunity to focus on our sinful nature and the wonder of Christ’s saving power in a particularly poignant way. As Jesus tells us in the gospel reading today, we are to “repent and believe in the gospel.”
But doing so involves much more than a simple passive belief. In fact, for Christian disciples, this belief in the gospel necessitates a life actively lived for the sake of the gospel, a life lived in immigration of Jesus who gave himself up for death for the sake of others.
This does not mean that we will all be called to die a martyr’s death. But our lives ought to be lived out for others. As stewards, we ought to give ourselves in loving service for others — at home, in our parishes, at work, at school and elsewhere. The life of a Christian disciple, as Christ so radically shows us, is a life of self-giving in love.
It sounds like a lot of work, and rightly so. Just look at the cross. It is far from easy. But, then, focus on the resurrection. Christ suffered the most unthinkable agony, but in his resurrection he experienced the most tremendous victory. That is what we live for. We give of ourselves like Christ did, knowing that we look forward to the glory of eternal life. The reward of a self-giving Christian steward far surpasses the effort it takes to live this way; it far surpasses any hardships we experience along the way.
So, we live for others and we call others to do the same, proclaiming the good news that Christ has come to save. All we need to do is repent and believe. Then, on Easter morning, we celebrate together the joy of the resurrection and we look forward to the day when we run out to meet the Lord together with all the angels and saints.
What a glorious gospel we proclaim!
Fr. Jim Golka: Stewardship is an Action, Not an Idea
Editor’s Note: Today we welcome a new contributor to The Catholic Steward, Fr. Jim Golka. Fr. Jim is the pastor of St Patrick’s Catholic Church in North Platte, Neb., and has been committed to developing stewardship there since 2006. Ordained for the Diocese of Grand Island in 1994, Fr. Jim has served as an associate pastor and pastor, becoming pastor of St. Patrick’s in 2006. A highlighted speaker at the Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference in Wichita, Kan., multiple times, Fr. Jim has a wealth of practical experience and insight in deepening the spirituality of parishioners through stewardship.
A few years ago at my parish, St. Patrick’s in North Platte, Neb., we dedicated a new stained glass window in our church. To find the window, you need to go to the staircase leading up to our choir loft. The window depicts a legend from the life of St. Patrick. When Patrick was a new bishop, he went to Armagh, Ireland, to lay out the design for a new church. When he approached the site, he encountered a doe with her fawn. Patrick’s companions wanted to kill the animals for food. Patrick carried the animals to a neighboring hillside and let them go free. Patrick proclaimed that future glory to God would be given on that site. In 1904, the present Cathedral of Armagh was constructed upon that very site thus bearing forth Patrick’s prediction. Our stained glass window depicts a doe sitting in a church to remember this story.
The window came to us because of a simple act by one of our parishioners. A woman approached me and told me that there was a need in the church that she could help with. She informed me that one of our windows was lacking a stained glass image. She told me that her family would pay for the window if we found a suitable image. I joked back to her that she would be spending her family’s inheritance. She told me that the church was part of her family. (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: February 19, 2012
February 19, 2012 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25; Ps 41:2-3, 4-5, 13-14; 2 Cor 1:18-22; Mk 2:1-12
God forgives sins, and today’s readings highlight this glorious truth.
In the Old Testament reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah, we hear the Lord say, “See, I am doing something new. … You burdened me with your sins, and wearied me with your crimes. It is I, I who wipe out, for my sake, your offenses; your sins, I remember no more.”
Then, in the Gospel from St. Mark, we hear Jesus forgive the sins of the paralytic, healing him spiritually before He heals him physically. The paralytic’s friends brought him to Jesus, knowing that Christ is the all-powerful healer, and, St. Mark tells us, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”
It is a fitting theme as we draw near to the season of Lent, preparing to celebrate the greatest miracle of all – Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. Truly, though, it is a fitting theme throughout the year as we strive to follow Christ. He came to Earth in order to forgive sins, to take our sins upon Himself and suffer their consequences, offering us, in return, everlasting life. (more…)
Stewardship Bulletin Reflection for the Week of February 19, 2012
February 19, 2012 – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Is 43:18-19, 21-22, 24b-25; Ps 41:2-3, 4-5, 13-14; 2 Cor 1:18-22; Mk 2:1-12
God is merciful. He came to Earth in order to suffer and die and then rise from the dead so that we, the sinners whom He loves, could have eternal life. He came because He loves us so much that He desired to take the punishment of our sins upon Himself.
In today’s gospel, Jesus shows his mercy to a suffering paralytic. He forgives him of his sins – healing him spiritually and then healing his physical ailments. The spiritual healing was, by far, the most important, even though it was only after the physical healing that the people recognized Jesus’ power.
Christ offers us his merciful healing and His life of grace in the sacraments. In a particular way, Jesus forgives us of our sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. He is there for us. He pours his mercy upon us, but, like the paralytic, we have to humbly come to Him. We have to be open to receiving that spiritual healing and that new life of grace.
When we do open ourselves to God’s grace and regularly receive the sacraments, He changes our lives. He makes us stronger disciples and equips us to live a life of faith here and now. He draws us ever nearer to Him and helps others to do the same so that, one day, we will all rejoice with Him in the eternal glory of the heavenly kingdom.
Fr. Michael Troha: Gas Stations or Communities?
On May 1, 2005, the gas pumps were shut down. Not at the local filling station, but right here at my parish of Immaculate Conception in Ohio. That was the day we began to put into practice stewardship as a way of life here in our parish.
What does living stewardship have to do with gas pumps?
Gas pumps are a metaphor for the way that some people look at their Catholic parish. What this means is that you look at your parish the way that you look at the local Speedway or Shell station. You need gas, and so you go to the nearest or most convenient gas station to get your gas.
Is this image appropriate for a parish? What does your parish mean to you? Is it simply a place to go on the weekend to fulfill your obligation to attend Mass? Or is it simply a place you go to when you have a need for a baptism, wedding or funeral? Or when you don’t like something about your parish, do you go somewhere else that has “better service” or gives you “better discounts” like a gas station would? If this is all that your parish means to you, then I guess you do look upon your parish as a set of gas pumps. (more…)
Stewardship Reflection on Lectionary Readings: February 12, 2012
February 12, 2012 — Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lv 13:1-2, 44-46; Responsorial Psalm Ps 32:1-2, 5, 11; 1 Cor 10:31-11:1; Mk 1:40-45
In today’s second reading, Paul exhorts the Corinthians: “do everything for the glory of God,” an exhortation that applies as directly to us today as it did to his original audience.
The Corinthians were largely Gentile Christians, having converted to Christianity without Jewish roots. Meanwhile, many of the early Christians were Jewish converts, so they were of the belief that all Christians ought to follow Jewish laws and customs, namely not eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. Yet, the Corinthians understood that the idols to which the meat was offered did not exist, so to them, consuming the meat was not a grave wrong. At the same time, however, they recognized that their pagan neighbors, believing the idols to exist, took a certain delight in the Christians consuming such meat.
Recognizing the conundrum in which the Corinthians found themselves, Paul encouraged them, reminding them that the most important thing was that they glorify God in all they do, being careful, at the same time, not to offend those around them, “just as I try to please everyone in every way, that they may be saved,” he wrote.
We live in a very different world today, and our understanding of Church law has evolved greatly over the years, yet the goal of our lives is one and the same. We are striving to be Christian disciples, to give ourselves to Christ in service and to follow His example. And we face many opposing forces as well. Indeed, everywhere we turned we are face-to-face with people encouraging us to turn away, encouraging us to submit to the relativistic culture that is so prevalent in our society, to choose whatever is easy or enjoyable for me in the moment. (more…)
