Stewardship Minute/Bible Reflection

Stewardship Bible Reflection August 1, 2021
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

“Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not.”  EXODUS 16:4 

When the Israelites gathered more than their daily portion of manna, the surplus became wormy and rotten.  In the same way today, self-reliance, pride and ego leads to hoarding and excessive surplus of goods and money.  Living a stewardship lifestyle helps us discern our “wants” from our “needs”.  Living a grateful and generous lifestyle reminds us that God will provide all that we need and that we have plenty to share. 

Stewardship Bible Reflection July 25, 2021
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”   JOHN 6:9

The miracle of the Loaves and Fishes carries two important messages.  First, no matter how little we have, we always have enough to share.  Second, Christ can take our humble gifts and do great things with them if we are just willing to let Him.  Nothing is impossible with God.  All of our gifts, big or small, were given to us for a reason.  No gift is too small or insignificant!

Stewardship Bible Reflection July 18, 2021
16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” MARK 6:31

Do you spend time, every day, alone and in silence listening to how God is calling you?  If not, you are missing out on a wonderful opportunity to develop a more personal relationship with Him.  Unless we talk and more importantly, listen to God every day, how else will we know how He is calling us?  Consider making a retreat this year, spend some “alone” time with God.


Stewardship Bible Reflection July 11, 2021
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time 

“He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick – no food, no sack, no money in their belts.” MARK 6:8  

Imagine taking nothing but a stick when you go on a trip.  The Apostles must have really trusted in God’s providential care.  Think of all the material things “we can’t live without” in today’s world.  We make our life’s journey more difficult because of all the material baggage that we drag along.  Putting God first in everything and putting our money and possessions second gives us freedom because we don’t become “slaves” to wanting to acquire more things. 

Stewardship Bible Reflection July 4, 2021
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“As the Lord spoke to me, the spirit entered me and set me on my feet, and I heard the one who was speaking say to me, ‘Son of man, I am sending you…’”   EZEKIEL 2:2-3

God has a plan for each of us.  He calls us to do something for Him.  But, He doesn’t leave us on our own to figure it out.  He gives us the resources we need to do His work.  Are you listening for God’s call?  When you hear it, do you get on your feet and do the work He asks of you?  Do not be afraid.  God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called.  Answer His call.

Stewardship Bible Reflection June 27, 2021
13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“…as a matter of equality your abundance at the present time should supply their want, so that their abundance may supply your want, that there may be equality.”  - 2 CORINTHIANS 8:14

One of the tenants of living a grateful and generous lifestyle is giving without expecting anything in return.  It is important that we not only grow, nurture and share our gifts; but that we also teach our children and encourage others to do the same.  This is the communal aspect of our Catholic faith.  We are the “Body of Christ”.  We are called to be dependent on each other and not live in isolation.

Stewardship Bible Reflection June 20, 2021

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time     

“He asked them, ‘Why are you terrified?  Do you not yet have faith?’”  – MARK 4:40

Do you really trust God?  Is God your first choice or last resort?  Is your faith something you just do on Sunday or do you live the Gospel message every day of the week?  Many of us know about God.  How many of us have a personal relationship with Him?  Start now, open your heart to receive our Lord.  Talk and listen to Him throughout the day, in all circumstances.

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil.”   - 2 CORINTHIANS 5:10

We are all accountable for all of the gifts God has given us – our time, our talent and our treasure; everything we have and everything we are.  Each of us is accountable not only for our own life but for the lives of others as well.  One day God will ask each of us what did we do with the gifts we were given.  How will you respond?

Feast of Corpus Christi

“Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them and they all drank from it.”  - MARK 14:23

Jesus, the perfect steward, gave thanks, just before He gave Himself up for us, completely for our salvation.  He offers us the same chance to drink from His cup.  In the bread and wine, we meet Christ personally.  If we follow Him, drinking from His cup means our own self-sacrifice, using all of our gifts for the benefit of others and to do His work on earth.

The Most Holy Trinity 

“The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ…” - ROMANS 8:16-17 

If we are heirs to the kingdom of God, shouldn’t we work to build up His kingdom?  Shouldn’t we be good stewards of our inheritance, using our time in prayer, our talent in charitable works and our treasure to care for the Church that God has left to us?  Our Church is a treasured heirloom from God.  Do we treat it that way?