Archbishop Carlson’s 2010 Stewardship Goal
“Let us reflect prayerfully on what stewardship means to us
individually and as a Church.”
It is recommended that all parishes include a stewardship reflection each week in their bulletin, to help parishioners reflect prayerfully on what stewardship means.
Stewardship Bulletin Reflections
June 2010 - September 2010
June 13, 2010
11th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet.” - Luke 7:44
Today’s Gospel calls us to consider how we serve God. Do we consume like the Pharisee who simply reclines at the table and expects to be served? Or do we contribute like the woman who kneels before Jesus and washes His feet? Every day we must make a choice. Take or give? Consume or contribute? Recline or serve?
June 20, 2010
12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” - Luke 9:23
We are not very good at “denying ourselves” in this society. Our current economic situation is evidence of what happens when people think they can have everything they want. Jesus calls us to set our own personal “wants” aside so that we have the resources to follow Him instead.
June 27, 2010
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather serve one another through love.” - Galatians 5:13
We like to celebrate the fact that we are free to “live the good life.” But Jesus calls us to a different kind of freedom. St. Paul reminds us that Jesus sets us free so that we can serve one another, share our gifts and promote God’s work here on earth.
July 4, 2010
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals…” - Luke 10:4
The story of Jesus sending out the 72 disciples reminds us that, as Christ’s disciples, we should not be overly concerned with material possessions. We also are expected to willingly share what we have with those who bring God’s message to us.
July 11, 2010
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Go and do likewise.” - Luke 10:37
This was Jesus’ simple command to all of us at the end of the Good Samaritan story. How do we do “likewise?” By taking the time to help when we are needed. By sharing our skills. By reaching into our pockets when financial help is needed. In short, by being a good steward.
July 18, 2010
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” - Luke 10:42
The story of Martha and Mary reminds us that God wants each of us to serve Him, just as Martha so graciously served. However, we will never know what God wants us to do unless we spend some time like Mary did, just sitting quietly at God’s feet and listening to His words.
July 25, 2010
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” - Luke 11:9
Jesus assures us that if we ask Him, God will take care of what we need. The problem is that in our culture we often confuse what we really need with what we simply want. We need very little. However, we usually want so much more. A good steward only asks God for what he needs.
August 1, 2010
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.” - Luke 12:15
The Gospel message today is so contrary to our modern culture where advertising continually tries to convince us that our value lies in the many things we possess. Jesus showed us that our true value lies in the way we live our lives. He challenges us to not store up or hoard material possessions. Rather, strive to be rich in that which matters to God.
August 8, 2010
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.” - Luke 12:34
Jesus encourages us to build up our treasure in heaven. The world encourages us to build up our treasure in real estate, investments, and material goods. How much time are you investing in building up a worldly treasure? How much time are you investing in building up a heavenly treasure? To invest more time in the things of heaven, you must let go of some of the things of this world.
August 15, 2010
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin
“The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” - Luke 1:49
In Mary’s Magnificat prayer she reminds us of the very foundation for stewardship. The Lord has done great things for all of us. Every single thing we have is a gift from God. He has blessed us abundantly – in little ways and in great ways. So when we are called upon to share some of our gifts with the world we should remember the lesson of the Blessed Virgin. We should say, “Yes,” trusting that God is good and He will take care of us. He does great things for us!
August 22, 2010
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
“For behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.” - Luke 13:30
Our standards in our society are so different from God’s standards. We often rate or rank people by what they have, how powerful they are, or how successful they are. Jesus reminds us that God will not judge us by the same earthly standards.
August 29, 2010
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you." - Luke 14:14
We have a difficult time with the concept of giving without expecting something in return. Even when we give to charity we often want something in return – a raffle ticket, a dinner, or a chance to play golf. Yet, as Christian stewards we need to remember that the true reward for our giving awaits us in heaven.
September 5, 2010
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple." - Luke 14:33
When we first hear this statement, it seems that Jesus is making an unrealistic demand upon us. How can we renounce all of our possessions? We need them to live. However, what we must renounce is the belief that they belong to us. Everything that we have belongs to God alone. All of our resources are entrusted to us not only for our own use, but also so that we can help others. Once we renounce the idea that we possess or are entitled to anything, it is much easier to share the many gifts that God has given us. Then we truly are His Disciples.
September 12, 2010
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Everything I have is yours.” - Luke 15:31
Our Heavenly Father gives us everything, including the chance to share in His eternal kingdom. Yet, like the Prodigal Son we are often lured away by the materialism of our society. Do we really want to turn our backs on all that God offers in exchange for a material wealth that has no lasting value?
September 19, 2010
Stewardship Awareness Sunday
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“It is my wish, then, that in every place the people should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.” - 1 TIimothy 2:8
Try to make it a habit to give God the first few minutes of each day by simply praying, “Lord, what do You want me to do today with all the gifts You have given me?” Then be sure to listen for His response throughout each day.
September 26, 2010
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established…” - Luke 16:25-26
When God created the world He declared that it was good and He gave it to all mankind for us to enjoy. However, over the years we have created a chasm between those who have great gifts and those who do not. In today’s Gospel we see that with our own generosity we must bridge that gap between those who have much and those who have little or we may find ourselves on the wrong side of the chasm in the next life.
