Authentic Catholic spirituality should always lead us in the direction of being a “disciple in mission.” This means using all that God has given us to serve Jesus Christ and the Church. In a sense, by God’s grace, God redeems not only our sinful nature, but He redeems all we have, including our time, talent and treasure. You can’t get any more spiritual than when God’s redeeming love transforms your time, talent and treasure into something beautiful for God and His Church.
A few years back, I recall an article in Catholic Update from St. Anthony Messenger Press that listed “Seven Secrets of Successful Stewards.” The Seven Secrets are:
- Give until if feels good.
- See not obligation, but opportunity.
- Give to specifics.
- Have an attitude of gratitude.
- Share various gifts at the right times.
- Realize God will point the way.
- See stewardship as a spiritual act.
The most important of the “Seven Secrets” is “seeing stewardship as a spiritual act.” When we truly understand the love that God has for us in Jesus Christ and that God enables us to enter into a personal loving relationship with Him through Jesus Christ, then we understand how “spiritual” Catholic stewardship really is. Following Jesus always demands some sort of sacrifice on our part. Catholic Stewardship embraces this sacrifice and sees it as good since we are responding to God’s call to love and serve Him in the Church.
Pray about what God is asking you to sacrifice in terms of time, talent and treasure. Rest assured, however, that God is never outdone in sacrifice or generosity.
