Biblical texts often call Israel “God’s vineyard.” Vineyards were especially evocative as they produced wine, to “gladden their hearts.” As literary symbol, a vineyard at harvest bespeaks security, abundance and the expectation of joy.
Our labor alongside Christ is its own reward, as St. Paul reminds us in the second reading. A person who has spent even one hour laboring alongside Christ has received a matchless gift of grace.
We all have a ministry in the church. As Bishop Mueggenborg told us at Mass on the 7thanniversary of our parish, “To know Jesus is to work for Jesus.” Here to continue the conversation is Deanna Tighe, pastoral associate at Christ Our Hope.
Thank you Father Paul. I appreciate the chance to share today with you about Stewardship.
As I was listening to the readings, I was really struck by Isiah’s message: “My thoughts are not your thoughts nor are my ways your ways says the Lord.” When I heard this, all I could think was “Thank Goodness!” I’m glad my ways are not God’s ways!
You see, if I got what I wanted, you wouldn’t hear about Stewardship this morning! I wouldn’t be up here now. I came up with a lot of excuses; I nominated some really great speakers – all because I was fearful of getting up here.
But the other night as I was stuck in traffic I had this clarifying thought – truly how can I ask each of you to do something that I myself am not willing to do? How can I ask you to commit to being good stewards by sharing your gifts and time with the Church, while I myself actively try and avoid it? This really was a light bulb moment for me – what do I really believe about Stewardship? What part does Stewardship really play in my faith life?
For I believe that, Stewardship is a matter of the heart. I try to see my Stewardship practices as a response to the boundless love God first showed me. It means that I am (most of the time) grateful for all that God has generously entrusted to me.
As a faithful steward and child of God, I try to understand that the decisions I make, in all aspects of my life, reveal my priorities. For it truly is a privilege for me to share time, talents, and finances, to care for God’s earth and to serve my neighbors. It is even a privilege for me to be up here!
And of course, I do fall short. A lot. But I do believe that when we realize that all we have belongs to God and not to us, we can’t help but give it away in thanksgiving for God’s generosity to us.
You see, Stewardship encompasses so much more than money. It is a way of life. It calls for integration between of faith and the way that we live our lives. Stewardship is a mindset, and a discipline that can ever be contained in annual three-week drive.
According to Minister Clarence Stoughton Stewardship is everything we do after we say “I believe.” It is the way in which we use all of the resources that God has entrusted to our care so that we can love God and our neighbor. The bottom line is this: Stewardship is about love.
The very first expression of God’s love is seen in creation. The scriptures tell us that Creation came forth as an expression of God’s boundless love and it is out of love that God forms humankind in God’s own image.
God has skillfully created each and every one of us and blessed us with more than we could ever imagine. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made, though most of the time we limp through life forgetting or running from this fact! Truly, God knows each and every one of us deeply and has created each of us uniquely. Stewardship is our very response to this – it is our response to God’s unconditional love for us.
Stewardship begins in this love – with God coming down to us in love and sharing some of what is God’s with us.
One way of thinking about Stewardship is to see it as a response of the disciple to God’s unconditional love. The more deeply we fall in love with God, the more we grow to see Stewardship as a way of life – a way of love – a way of imitating God’s love for us. We begin to see everything good as a gift from God and then respond in gratitude with the gift of our very selves.
So Stewardship is a grateful response to how much God loves us! But for us, here, now – what does that grateful response look like? I honestly believe that each of you wants to be a good steward of God’s love.
You show up here Sunday after Sunday, bringing your very selves and lives to share with the Church for God. But at times you might ask yourselves – how do I know what I am supposed to do? How can I truly make a difference?
Remember, God created you to fulfill a specific role in this world. There is no one else here who can achieve completely what God has purposely created you to do.
And what have we been given? What are our gifts?
All of us have been entrusted with such gifts from God and many, even most of us, have been given more than we need. But often, even with our surplus, we hold back what we have and in one way or another, refuse to enter the vineyard to work alongside our brothers and sisters.
We have a responsibility and accountability for all that we have, and for sharing it with our brothers and sisters in need.
There are so many opportunities to work for the Kingdom of God right here at Christ Our Hope. This is one of the best places that you can share your God given talents and strengths for there are so many opportunities to get involved. In fact, this parish exists because of good Stewardship. Every ministry and outreach is run by an individual sharing their gifts with their brothers and sisters. But more is needed. More gifts – more talents – more people – more love. You are needed. Your individual gifts and talents are needed to build up the kingdom of God.
You will see on your commitment cards that there are over 30 areas in which you can get involved. Thirty areas that need your gifts and talents. Right now there are about 10% of parishioners doing 75% of the ministry here at Christ Our Hope. If we are to truly be a beacon of God’s light here in downtown Seattle, we need your individual talents. Christ Our Hope needs your talents. Our brothers and sisters at the Josephinum need your gifts and talents. The people living and dying on the streets need your gifts and talents. And me. I need you. I can only be my best, most loving self when I am surrounded by others doing God’s work with me. I picture it like a huge party. God has invited all of these really cool and amazing people to this party of His and it is just not the same if you don’t show up!
Today, we see where God is calling you. After Mass there will be people at the different ministry tables that you can speak with about the different ways of sharing your gifts. You can always reach out to myself or other ministry leaders as well.
And this morning, brothers and sisters, as we approach the Lord’s Table where Jesus offers to us everything that was His to give – pray about what you can give back in gratitude to God.
On the Cross there was nothing He held back – He gave us everything he had. And today, in the Eucharist, He offers us everything He has to give: His life, His Body, and Blood.
How shall we thank Him? What might you offer in return? Your gifts and strengths surrendered to others for their need – and for our salvation.