Stewardship is, “All that I do with all that I have after I say, "I believe."

The pig and the chicken were talking about the farmer’s breakfast. “The farmer's breakfast is no big deal,” said the chicken, “just ham and eggs.” “That's easy for you to say,” said the pig. “For you it's a mere sacrifice, for me it's total commitment!” We laugh because we want to be like the chicken: Here, Lord, is my offering, my tithe, my Sunday morning, my penance and sorrow, my service to my fellow man…but then, leave the rest of my life to me. However, biblical stewardship is “All that I do with all that I have after I say, "I believe."

Jesus describes it in today’s Gospel lesson: “Anyone who would follow Me, he must
deny himself,” In today’s entitlement-minded, me-first society this is an incredible thing to ask. It swims mightily against the current. It means setting aside my own importance in life, and placing Jesus on the throne. It requires a mini-death of self. “He must take up his cross,” One’s cross is not what one suffers in this life, there’s plenty to go around, and most of it is our own doing. One's cross is what one does to follow in the footsteps of Christ. It is the price paid for discipleship. The price is a cross—the instrument of death. It means being willing to die to self and serve others for the sake of Christ. “He must follow me.” He did not say “follow your inclinations,” or “follow your dreams,” or “follow your career path.” He said, “follow Me.” It may be that the path He takes you on is that of your inclinations, your dreams or your career, but it may not. Total commitment means following Him. Christ took His cross to Calvary where He gave Himself for the sins of the whole world. We take our crosses to the hill of the death of our own illusions of self-determination, and we give ourselves for others. The Cross for Jesus was the doorway to Easter. The path He would take you on will walk through the death of your own self-importance, but it will end up being the path of your own highest potential, greatest service and best self.

To figure out what this means trace your finger down the avenues of activity in your life and consider them in terms of your time, your talents and your treasure.

1. At your parish:
Time is “when.” Sunday morning is for worship, not sleep. Midweek is not just for mowing the lawn, it is a chance to renew your spiritual batteries. Special occasions are not merely a time to have fun, but a chance to reassert our eternal values.
Talent is “how.” Last week was Rally Day, but in a sense every day is Rally Day at St. Christopher’s. Can you make music? Music is 40% of what you experience on a Sunday morning. Help the body of Christ lift up its worship to Him. Can you teach? The body of Christ desperately needs teachers of the Word. Do you serve? Serve the needy as Christ commanded in the agencies we support. Are you good at administration? The body of Christ needs your talents. Do you have a heart for pastoral care? Jesus is saying to you, “tend my lambs.” Can you fix things? The house of the body of Christ could benefit from your abilities. Is your heart lifted up in the liturgy? The body of Christ needs liturgical leaders. And the list goes on.
Treasure is “what.” Your finances—God asks for 10% to be given to the local parish for its ministries, and then other offerings beyond that to meet special needs as they come up.
Your toys—how can you spend a 10th of the service they provide to enhance the body of Christ? Your house, and the stuff in it—how are you using them to serve the Body of Christ called St. Christopher’s? Everything is sacred, nothing is unimportant.

2. At home:
Time is “when.” Before and after work—what do you do with your time? What does that say about your faith? Weekends—what do you do with them? Do they merely distract you from your worries or do they recreate you to serve another week? Talent is “how.” What are you good at that would build your family life? How does your household honor God with what it does? Treasure is “what.” Are your finances in order?
10% for God, 10% to savings, bills paid on time, don’t overspend. How can you use your home to serve the needs of those you know? Do the purposes your household goods serve honor your commitment to your God? How about your recreational supplies? How well do they recreate your own spirit? How can you use them for the benefit of others? Everything is sacred, nothing is unimportant.

3. At work:
Time is “when.” Are your work hours given gladly and honestly as befits a son or daughter of God? Talent is “how.” Do you use your talents to make an honest living so that, as Paul says in Ephesians 4, you have something to share with those in need? Does your work require unchristian behavior? Treasure is “what.” Do you work for the money or do you work to honor God in this life? Everything is sacred, nothing is unimportant.

4. At play:
Time is “when.” Do you schedule regular recreation times? Do you take special occasions to rest and recreate your soul? Are they in balance with the rest of your life? Talent is “how.” What activity really restores and renews you? Do you use your talents in that way to renew your energies for service? Treasure is “what.” Money spent on true recreation honors God, as long as it is re-creation, and not distraction. Everything is sacred, nothing is unimportant.

Tomorrow is Labor Day, when we honor the American laborer. If stewardship is all that I do with all that I have after I say, “I believe,” then there is no more holy labor than a life lived for God where everything is sacred, nothing is unimportant.

Fr. Paul Moore+