STEWARDSHIP: A Disciple’s Response

           [God's Way of Life]   [Joyful Living]   [Disciple's Response]   [How to Live]   [Joy in Church]   [The Call]   [Living as a Steward I]  [Living as a Steward II]  [Church as Steward]

    On November 18, 1992, the U. S. Bishops approved a pastoral letter STEWARDSHIP that recognizes the importance of Church support, including the sharing of time, talent, and treasure, and what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. The bishops say that if Christians understand STEWARDSHIP and strive to live it fully they would grasp "that they are no less than "God’s co-workers" (1 Cor. 3:9), with their own unique share in His creative, redemptive and sanctifying work. The bishops go on to say that the Christian disciple is "one who responds to Christ’s call, follows Jesus and shapes his or her life in imitation of Christ’s.

    A Christian steward is then defined as "one who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, shares them in justice and love with others, and returns them with increase to the Lord."

    However, in many ways it is harder to be a Christian steward today than in the past. While we often speak about community, individualism infects our experiences forcing us to consider how to use people’s gifts and charisms for the uplifting of others. For while we are our ‘religiously strong" our country’s dominant secular culture often contradicts the values we share in our Christian tradition.

    The challenge is to become a Christian Steward, and we have a choice – to join the secular mainstream of American society or become a disciple of Jesus. Jesus’ invitation to follow him is addressed to people of every time and condition. Here and now it is addressed to us.

    We at St. Johns concur with this pastoral letter that STEWARDSHIP is a long-term, continuing process and that it is important to start this process by laying out a comprehensive view of STEWARDSHIP. As a vision of a sharing, generous, accountable way of life rooted in Christ which people can take to heart and apply to the circumstances of their lives.

    Let us pray that we all become open to the grace to respond, and that the Holy Spirit will enlighten us all and help us to renew our commitment as the Lord’s disciples and stewards of his bountiful gifts.

Fr. Bob Kraig, and Stewardship committee

           [God's Way of Life]   [Joyful Living]   [Disciple's Response]   [How to Live]   [Joy in Church]   [The Call]   [Living as a Steward I]  [Living as a Steward II]  [Church as Steward]