Pastor's Page: The Need to Give
October 24, 2010
Jesus once said that we find ourselves, when we give ourselves away in love and service. What parent does not delight in the faces of their children on Christmas Day, as gifts are received celebrating the birth of the Christ child?
Jesus challenges us to show our love for him through our generosity to others. We give in gratitude to God, considering how blest we are with God's love that brought us into being and sustains us. We use our gifts and talents and our financial resources not only for our own good, but for the good of others.
We are, each of us, God's chosen ones. Everything we have comes from our gracious God. In response, we share our gifts of time, talent, and treasure with others. As St. Paul says in his letter to the Galatians, "While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people-but especially to those of the household of faith." (6. 10)
Many people in our parish have committed themselves as ministers publicly in liturgy, catechesis, social service, administration and more. They have given a certain umber of hours each week to charitable activities and to prayer. They do so gratefully. I hope and pray that you are one of them! "It is in giving, that we receive." (St. Francis of Assisi)
In the area of sacrificial giving to others of their treasure, some parishioners have chosen the biblical norm of giving 10% of their treasure; 5% to our parish and 5% to other charities of their choosing.
Because they have been blessed financially, some parishioners are able to give more than the 10%.
Most of us might start at two, three, or 4% of our income given to the work of the gospel here and elsewhere, and then work upwards toward the 10%.
Let us ask the Lord, "How much should I give Lord?" It seems to me that we need to give to others until we feel good about what we have given.
As good caretakers, stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, we need to plan out our giving annually.
We also need to let our giving to others, whether of our time and talent or our treasure, be in proportion to what God has given us.
When we place God first in our lives, we are living our lives as lovers of God and neighbor. Stewardship is a spirituality that deepens our relationship with Jesus and with one another in the church.
"Give, and it shall be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will they pour into the fall undergarments. For the measure you measure with will be measured back to you." (Luke 6. 38)
This fall 2010, we are all taking some time in prayer to figure out what percentage of our income goes to the church and other charitable causes. Each of us is developing a plan for the coming year and making a pledge commitment.
Soon we will bring our completed pledge cards to the altar of God at the offertory of our parish masses.
Peace,
Father Bruce
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