STEWARDSHIP
Visitors to this component of the St. Paul Parish website will find a series of brief reflections on the meaning of “stewardship” in the Christian life. Most of the reflections to be found here will have appeared in the parish’s Sunday bulletins during the year 2010.
Under the direction of our Pastor, Father Jay McGinnis, the parish development committee is working toward the goal of having St. Paul Parish become a “stewardship parish.” The committee’s efforts will culminate on November 14, 2010, which will be known as “Commitment Sunday.”
In essence, St. Paul parishioners will be asked, after careful and prayerful consideration, to complete a pledge card, expressing the specifics of their intentions for sharing their time, talent and treasure in service to the mission of the parish in the ensuing year.
Please pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the committee’s work and inspire parishioners’ hearts.
STEWARDSHIP
The essence of stewardship is responsible care for the gifts entrusted to one. A good steward is one who is unafraid to give a full accounting when the master asks for it. Good stewardship is a primary aspect of a Christian life based on the world-view that everything is a gift from God.
For a Christian, the responsible use of one’s gifts entails offering their use in union with the offerings of Christ to the Father. Christ offered His entire life, His entire Being to the Father as a sacrifice for our redemption. Learning from Christ’s teachings and example, we are challenged to adopt Christ’s attitude with regard to our individual gifts.
Gratitude and generosity are two key attitudes related to stewardship. Our hearts should overflow with thanksgiving to God in every moment of our lives on earth. Our daily behaviors should be characterized by open sharing of our gifts. When we give generously of our time, our talents and our material resources, we are expressing our gratitude for the opportunity to be good stewards. We are also acting responsibly, aided by the grace of Christ, and moving toward the day of final accounting when we will gladly surrender ourselves to the mercy of Christ.
WHO IS THE GOOD STEWARD?
Listen to Luke, 12: 42-48:
“Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute [the] food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish him severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”
Let each of us consider honestly where he/she stands in relation to these words of the Lord.
WHO IS THE GOOD STEWARD?
Recall the parable of the talents (Matthew 25: 14-30). To the servant who received five talents and returned them with another five, and to the servant who received two and returned them with another two, the master said: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” To the one who had received one and returned only one he gave the boot. Which are you? There’s still time to change your ways.