The selfishness, self-absorption of secular life benumbs me, it is so pervasive, so accepted that basic friendliness, basic courtesy seems to have disappeared. Everything appears to be for the good of the individual instead of the community. With a little patience and sense of humor these types are easily observed filled with as much anxiety and insecurity that the latest new thing can promote. Modern technology pretends to make our lives easier but often it just makes us anxious as we wait for phone calls and send text messages instead of concentrating on the people in front of us. Just now I am sitting here full of grave thoughts because this is the Lenten season and I am trying to plan my day. Although technology offers to connect human beings to facilitate communication, something is missing.
Technology does not encourage us to love each other, to be polite to each other. Technology just encourages us to spend more money to stay connected.
Stewardship offers each Christian the opportunity to connect with the world in a real way. Stewardship is simply love. We are asked by God to slowdown, look at our community, see the strengths, see the weaknesses, pray for and try to improve the deficiencies. We are asked to remember the example of Christ and try to follow in his footsteps.
Good-fellowship accompanies Stewardship. If we are able to accept the idea of Stewardship as an act of love, directed purely toward God, with no desire for any recognition, reward from anyone then we are ready to begin this journey. Stewardship is not easy; it requires different commitments, different sacrifices. But, the feelings of love and hope which arise in our hearts after doing a good deed are priceless.
The Church will always need volunteers to help with doing God’s work. Stewardship offers each of us our chance, our time to help. The more you volunteer, the more you offer to help the more you will be able to experience a finer solidarity with the Church community, a finer solidarity with all human beings, a finer solidarity with Christ. Stewardship can be a way to praise to God as we do our activities with love and hope for God, freely, humbly.
One of the advantages of Stewardship is that we can sample many different activities while searching for the ones that fit our interests. A brave Christian will allow his heart to approach Stewardship with innocence of a child, being willing to try new things, stuff envelopes, make soup, carry boxes. Stewardship allows each of us to feel useful, connected to our parish community. There is one certainty one given in parish life, volunteers are always needed. As members of the community we must allow ourselves a moment of silence to calm our minds, soothe our nerves.
Being a member of this parish is like being a member of a large family. How much we interact with each other is our personal choice. If we want a more profound experience that will require trust, faith, hope and involvement. The parish community does need your support; the parish community does need your love. Stewardship offers each of us an opportunity to volunteer, to work for God, to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.
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