Things are starting up in a big way at St. Monica’s! Two weeks ago, Brent Walker led an inspiring retreat day, inviting us to embrace our mission to live as “people of the Way.” Last weekend, we began a new year of Faith First, welcoming back the children, sharing with the whole community the many ways in which we as adults can grow and deepen our faith through the coming year. Today, following up on the witness talks given by Marcelle and Iain the past two Sundays on the value of sharing our talents and our time, Simon has courageously accepted to plunge in “where angels fear to tread”, speaking to us on the third leg of the stewardship tripod: the gift of Treasure!

Christian stewards “receive God’s gifts gratefully, cherish and tend them in a responsible and accountable manner, share them in justice and love with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.” This applies not only to the sharing of time and talent, but also to the material resources available to us. Catholics tend to find it difficult to have an honest conversation about money. Because the subject is awkward, we tend to avoid it. As a priest, the last thing I want to do is turn the pulpit into a weekly appeal for funds. Yet we all know that the work of evangelization, worship and outreach to which the Lord calls us has financial costs associated with it: salaries, programs, supplies, utilities, maintenance – not to mention major repairs and renovations that make a serious dent into our reserves. And in spite of what some think, the Vatican museum is not going to sell a painting to pay for our front steps!

When we respond with generosity to the Lord who is the source of all our gifts, we encounter a God who “will not be outdone in generosity”: “Mature disciples make a conscious, firm decision, carried out in action, to be followers of Jesus Christ whatever the cost. This commitment is expressed not in one single action, but in an entire way of life: the gift of one’s very self to the Lord. Stewardship is an expression of discipleship, which changes how we understand and live out our lives. Disciples who practice stewardship recognize God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are and will be. They know themselves to be recipients and caretakers of God’s many gifts. They are grateful for what they have received and eager to cultivate their gifts out of love for God and one another." (U.S. Bishops: Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response)

Next week: from the 3 T’s of stewardship to the “4 P’s”: how our financial commitment is to be planned, prayerful, percentage, and progressive!