Dear Friends 

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

(February 16)

Every organization has its particular catchphrases or buzz words. In the life of the Church, one of these you’ve probably heard over and over is stewardship. If you’re familiar with this “insider” jargon, you’ve probably already figured out, “Ok, he’s going to talk about time, talent, and treasure (the famous 3 T’s).” But here’s where I want to surprise you. Let’s dig a little deeper into this concept without talking about time, talent, and treasure because stewardship is at the very core of Christian spirituality and it does play a vital role in the life of the Church today. In fact, both parishes are going to be engaged in stewardship in the next few weeks. The program at Assumption is called, “In Giving, We Receive” (a phrase borrowed from St. Francis of Assisi). At Resurrection, the program is called Just Choose One. I won’t bore you with the nuts and bolts of these two innovative and well-thought-out programs; you’ll be hearing enough about them in your respective parishes as time marches on. Instead, I want to take the rest of this column to reflect on the meaning of stewardship without using this word again. Ok, here goes!

To begin with, our life as Catholic Christians is not something that we’ve chosen. My faith is not my doing. Rather the reason I’m a Catholic Christian is that God has called me! Yes, that’s right. Unlike Judaism, where you become a member of the Jewish religion by being born to a Jewish mother (yes, it’s that easy), no one is born a Catholic Christian. The reason why we are baptized is that God has first called us to this saving moment. It’s a little like parenting. Pardon my digression into the world of TV commercials, but there is an especially apropos one that highlights my point. As the commercial (for a nighttime stuffy nose, flu-like fever medicine) begins, we see a gentleman (who obviously has those symptoms) opening a door. As the door opens, he’s looking right at someone and says something like, “Jack, I gotta take a sick day today. I feel rotten and I wanna go back to bed.” The next scene focuses on the person to whom he is speaking, and lo and behold – it’s a toddler jumping up and down in his crib. The obviously ironic point of the commercial is that if you are a parent, there are no sick days. Your commitment as a parent can’t take a sabbatical when you don’t feel well.

Well friends, just as little children are a blessing to their parents; the faith to which you and I are called is also a blessing. And just as parents, even when they don’t “feel” like it, have an obligation to care for, nurture and support a toddler, we have an obligation to care for, nurture and support our life of faith as Catholic Christians. So, in a word, this obligation is not optional. You can’t “call in sick” when it comes to supporting your life of faith as a Catholic Christian who lives and worships with others who surround you.

And this is where the idea of blessing is also so pivotal. Toddlers can be very trying at times (so I’m told), but when little Wesley showed up with Grandpa Dan at the 8:30 Mass at Resurrection and little Henry came with Grandma Kathi to Assumption’s office on Monday, you couldn’t help but fall in love with these little toddlers. They were just that cute. They are a blessing (just ask Dan and/or Kathi) – but they also need care and support.

At Mass, just before we go up to receive Holy Communion, I have the privilege of holding up the Body and Blood of Jesus and saying (to you) “Look Everybody” (OK, I say “Behold”) the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those who are called to the supper of the Lamb.” Did you know that you are so fortunate (like Grandpa Dan and Grandma Kathi) because you have been called, not to have grandchildren but to have faith as a Catholic Christian who now shares in a saving banquet? Yes, you are blessed because you’ve been called. It’s that simple, really. And since you are blessed, and since you are called, you have an obligation (like Dan and Kathi) to care for, nurture and support that blessedness. This is the heart of stewardship which is fundamentally at the very core of what it means to be a Catholic Christian.

So, as each parish embarks programmatically in the next several weeks, I pray for one thing: BE GOOD STEWARDS! More on the spirituality of stewardship next week!