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January 8, Epiphany of the Lord
The three wise men who came from the East to pay homage to the infant
Jesus brought Him rich gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh as part of
their worship. What gifts have I brought to this celebration to offer to
the newborn Savior? |
January 15, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today's first reading, we hear Samuel respond eagerly, "Here I am!"
each time the Lord calls him. May we, too, be listening for the call of
God in our lives and be ready to say like the Psalmist, "Here am I,
Lord; I come to do your will." |
January 22, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
There is a certain urgency in today’s Gospel as Jesus calls His first
disciples – Andrew and Simon, James and John. Each one follows Jesus
immediately, unhesitatingly abandoning nets and boats and father and
fellow-workers. To what is Jesus calling me – at this moment, in these
circumstances? What will I need to abandon in order to follow Him? |
January 29, Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Moses told the people, "A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise
up for you from among your own kinsmen." God still provides among His
people the gifts and talents necessary to continue the work of His
church. What gifts are yours to share? |
February 5, Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Like St. Paul in the second reading, the good steward can say, "I do all
that I do for the sake of the Gospel in the hope of having a share in
its blessings." |
February 12, Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today’s second reading, St. Paul urges the Corinthians to "do all for
the glory of God." If we follow that advice in everything we do, we
cannot help but be good stewards. |
February 19, Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Forgiveness, too, is a gift from God. Freed from the paralysis of sin,
the man in today’s Gospel was able to stand and give witness to the
power of God. How do I let sin cripple me? Am I a good steward of the
gift of God’s forgiveness? |
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February 22, Ash
Wednesday
In today’s gospel, Jesus warns that our giving must be done quietly,
without hoping for recognition or applause. But He also promises that
God, who sees even our most secret deeds, will reward those who fast,
pray, and give alms. |
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February 26, First Sunday of Lent
The waters of baptism make us part of the new covenant in Christ. But
the bishops’ pastoral letter on stewardship reminds us that "there is a
fundamental obligation arising from the sacrament of baptism … that
people place their gifts, their resources – their selves – at God’s
service in and through the Church." |
March 4, Second Sunday of Lent
Abraham was prepared to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. St. Paul reminds
us that God Himself "did not spare his own Son." Are my gifts to the
Lord - of my resources, of my time, of myself – also sacrificial? |
March 11, Third Sunday of Lent
"You shall not covet" is perhaps a difficult commandment to keep in our
consumer society. But as Christian stewards, we know that we are the
recipients and caretakers of God’s many gifts. May this understanding
that all is gift help us be less resentful of the gifts of others. |
March 18, Fourth Sunday of Lent
All that we have and all that we are comes from the Lord. "We are truly
his handiwork," says St. Paul in the second reading, "created in Christ
Jesus to lead the life of good deeds which God prepared for us in
advance." |
March 25, Fifth Sunday of Lent
"If anyone would serve me," says Jesus in today’s Gospel, "let him
follow me; where I am, there will my servant be." In what ways is Jesus
inviting me to follow Him? What service is He asking of me? |
April 1, Passion (Palm) Sunday
Good stewards strive to conform their lives to that of Christ – emptying
themselves of all pride and putting themselves at the service of others. |
April 8, Easter Sunday
Alleluia! Christ is risen and is victorious over sin and death! We are
good stewards of our faith if, like St. Paul, we share this good news
whenever and wherever we can. |
April 15, Second Sunday of Easter
The Christian community described in Acts understood and practiced total
stewardship. St. Paul reports that the believers did not claim anything
as their own, but held everything in common, and distributed to each
whatever was needed. |
