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Discipleship Reflection – December 26/27, 2009
Mary and Joseph went searching for their son “in great anxiety.” They were understandably worried. There are times when we worry about the young people in our lives. There are also times when they amaze us! Let us pray that in the coming year our faith community will continue to respond to the needs of families, and encourage and enable our young people to share their unique gifts. Amen.
Discipleship Reflection – December 19/20, 2009
Gratitude, Generosity & Trust… these have been the focus of our stewardship reflections the first three Sundays of Advent. Having these in our hearts we are more ready as we await Christ’s coming. This coming week will be a week filled with joyful anticipation. Good stewards live in anticipation of fulfilling, doing, and sharing in the Master’s work.
Discipleship Reflection – December 12/13, 2009
Trust… in our increasingly secular society it is not fashionable to trust God. Stewardship means that we are grateful for our many blessings, and we are generous with our lives and our possessions. In living this way we learn to trust more in God and less in ourselves. Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship, and our relationship with God is no different. God trusts us to do our part and we must trust explicitly in God.
Discipleship Reflection – December 5/6, 2009
Generosity… authentic generosity is born out of an attitude of gratitude. How generous are you with your time? Advent is a time of preparation. A generous portion of our time given to prayer and to the service of others is a good way to make Christ’s presence among us known. Stewardship is living generously. Thank you for your generosity this past year.
Discipleship Reflection – November 28/29, 2009
Advent provides an opportunity for us to begin again and to prepare ourselves anew for the coming of Jesus Christ. It is a time of waiting and expectation, of anticipation and preparation. We can use the coming weeks for personal prayer, growth and change in the way we live. Anticipating the Nativity of Jesus, we can dedicate special time toward considering our relationship with him. As we recall previous Advents, we remember those who inspire us through their faith and actions. We too can be memorable mentors and models to others through our demonstrations of discipleship and stewardship.
Discipleship Reflection – November 21/22, 2009
It is an ancient and very trustworthy tradition that the Blessed Virgin was solemnly offered in the Temple to God at the age of three by her parents, Saint Anne and Saint Joachim. Their love and devotion to God reflects the relationship they shared with Him. In what ways do we demonstrate a personal relationship to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?
Discipleship Reflection – Oct. 31/Nov. 1, 2009
Learning about the saints of history can teach us to trust in God and to reflect our love for Him and others. Saints are often ordinary people who give extraordinary witness to their loving relationship with God. We each are called to be holy and giving of the gifts we have received. We might use the gained extra hour, as daylight savings time ends, to think of how the three questions relate to us and to the way we live.
Discipleship Reflection – October 24/25, 2009
This Sunday we celebrate the men who have exercised a unique stewardship of their lives by entrusting them to the Lord as priests. It is an opportunity for Catholics to thank, affirm and share their love and support for priests. Started by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter community, it is joined with the Serra Club’s celebration of Priesthood Sunday today. Throughout this year, dedicated as the Year for Priests, we can pray for vocations, and encourage those who might respond to this unique call. We can also respond to our own baptismal call by working collaboratively with our priests to build up the Kingdom of God.
Discipleship Reflection – October 17/18, 2009
Organized by the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, World Mission Sunday is an important day in the life of the Church because it reminds Catholics worldwide about the importance of giving: “…as an offering made to God, in the Eucharistic celebration” and for the missionary activity of the Church (see Redemptoris Missio 81). We are reminded, as stewards and disciples, that it is the Lord through His universal Church, who we are called to serve - with the same love that He gives to each of us.
Discipleship Reflection – October 3/4, 2009
Stewardship demonstrates respect for God’s creation. Be aware of the many educational opportunities, prayer services, public witness events and programs to raise funds for those in need that are hosted in your diocese throughout the month of October to help build a culture of respect and defense for every human life. Each person is called to demonstrate reverence for human life through his/her own special and unique gifts of creation.
Discipleship Reflection – September 26/27, 2009
St. James warns against accepting the standards of the world and assuming that what is normative in society needs no countercultural challenge. The temptation to hoard riches and make sharp bargains at the expense of the powerless is pervasive because these things are generally done and look respectable enough. St. James points to God’s judgment on these attitudes and actions of amassing wealth and comfort at the expense of others. How might we better stewards of the material blessings we have been given?
Discipleship Reflection – September 19/20, 2009
In today’s Gospel, Jesus continues to turn society’s idea of greatness upside down. He teaches that true greatness lies in being a servant to others; a good steward of our relationships. We want success, but Jesus defines success differently than we do. Jesus redefines our notion of greatness and success. How do we define success? Is our notion of success the same as what Jesus teaches?
Discipleship Reflection – September 12/13, 2009
St. James asks what our love for Jesus Christ can possibly mean if it does not result in action on behalf of our neighbor. He suggests that that faith is demonstrated most acutely in care for the needy, the suffering, and the underprivileged. Stewardship includes proclaiming the Good News by putting our faith into action on behalf of others. In what ways have we been willing to make sacrifices and renunciations for the sake of Jesus Christ and our neighbor?
Discipleship Reflection – September 5/6, 2009
St. James teaches that those who are poor in the eyes of society are the ones who have been chosen to inherit the Kingdom of God. Indeed, we are saved because of our poverty; we are redeemed out of our need; not because of our material wealth or achievements that the world finds praiseworthy. St. James also suggests that we are stewards of others, especially the poor; and it is how we respond to the poor and needy that will define our relationship with the Lord. How do we respond to the less fortunate right within our own parish?
Discipleship Reflection – August 29/30, 2009
In the reading from the letter of St. James we are urged to be “doers” of the Gospel, not just listeners. Being a “steward” of God’s Word is a matter of listening to the Good News, embracing the Good News and putting the Good News into action in our day-to-day lives. And whenever we are uncertain as to what decisions to make or actions to take as good stewards of the Gospel, St. James reminds us: We can never go wrong if we resist popular values that are not compatible with the Gospel, and we come to the aid of those who are burdened, distressed and poor.
Discipleship Reflection – August 22/23, 2009
In today’s Gospel, we hear that a number of Jesus’ followers left him because his message was too difficult for them to accept. In essence, they did not believe in him. He then asked the Twelve if they wished to leave as well. Peter responds by making a profound profession of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. The Twelve made a choice and stood by their choice, remaining loyal to their commitment to Jesus. A good question for our reflection might be this: Are we satisfied with the stewardship we exercise over our baptismal commitment? Are we just “along for the ride?” Are we keeping Christ in front of us as we make decisions about our daily activities, our relationships, our parish, issues in the workplace, issues such as peace and justice? What is the quality of our stewardship?
Discipleship Reflection – August 15/16, 2009
Jesus announces that he is the “living bread.” And we understand that the Eucharist is the center of our life in faith: in our families, parish, local church and throughout the world. We are the stewards of Christ’s life in the Eucharist. We are called to put the Eucharist into action. How do we do that? St. Paul enjoins us to be always grateful, to worship, to try to understand the will of the Lord and to watch carefully how we live. What are some of the ways we can put the Eucharist into action this week?
Discipleship Reflection – August 8/9, 2009
The Letter to the Ephesians urges us to be mindful that part of our life together in the Eucharist means being kind to one another, compassionate and forgiving, just as Christ has forgiven us. What can we do this week to show our kindness, compassion and forgiving attitude toward others in our family of faith? How can we be even better stewards of our faith community as, what St. Paul refers to as “Imitators of God?”
Discipleship Reflection – August 1/2, 2009
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus proclaiming that he is “the bread of life.” He then offers an invitation to come to him. For us, the invitation is to live the Eucharistic life in Christ. What does it mean for our parish family to live together in the Eucharist? What does it mean for us to share the Eucharist together, to participate in the “bread of life” together? Does it mean we love each other, support our community of faith, work together? Do we carry each other’s burdens? Celebrate our joys? What are the practical implications of being good stewards of our Eucharistic life together?
Discipleship Reflection – July 25/26, 2009
The story of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes is a familiar one, and has many lessons, not least of which is how our willingness to share who we are and what we have - exercising good stewardship - releases God’s power and bountifulness on the world and its people. Do we realize that there is enough for all if we are willing to share? Are we aware that God is at work when we share our time, our money and our other resources in His name?