-From a Summary of the US Bishops’ Pastoral Letter on Stewardship

“As members of the Church, Jesus calls us to be disciples. This has astonishing implications:
Mature disciples make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost.
Christian disciples experience conversion – life- shaping changes of mind and heart – and commit their very selves to the Lord.
Christian stewards respond in a particular way to the call to be a disciple. Stewardship has the power to shape and mold our understanding of our lives
and the way in which we live them.
Jesus’ disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and for one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards.”

Ponder with me the facets of this stewardship diamond: “We receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.” How do I express gratitude to the Lord? How do I develop my gifts? Is sharing lovingly the trademark of my life? Do I trust that my generosity can never outdo the Lord’s generosity to me? The more I give of myself, the more the Lord refreshes the gifts in my life!

Father Bill +