Pastor's Pen - Feb. 8, 2015

As we move into Lent we are reminded of the traditional Lenten practices of Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. These seasons (Lent and Advent) are a time set apart for us to take a moment/to pause and evaluate what we are doing for God and our relationship with God.
It seems like there has been a lot of talk lately on Stewardship and what we give back to God and how we do that. Simply put, “Stewardship is about four things: 1) receiving God’s gifts gratefully, 2) nurturing and tending those gifts responsibly, 3) sharing those gifts justly and charitably, and 4) returning those gifts to God in abundance.” The spirituality of stewardship deals with time, talent, and treasure. Unfortunately, we have equated stewardship only with treasure, but it is so much more.
At this time of Lent, I would challenge you to take a look at time. Time could be the most essential of gifts that God gives to us. Essentially “invented” by God for our limited brains to keep order, we live in time and usually take it for granted until something happens that makes us stop and appreciate what we have.
I have had the privilege to celebrate the lives of many people at their funeral Mass and/or vigil. I have come to be more aware of life and hopefully appreciative of the time I have to be with people I love, to play, to serve, to pray, and just to be. Recently that realization was pushed even further within my own family, which makes me stop and pause once again. Did I take the time I should/could have, did I appreciate the moments I had, did I thank the person enough and tell them how I feel? I can say that I have no real regrets except that she is gone.
But what has this got to do with time, Lent and Stewardship?
We have been given “all the time in the world” by God as a GIFT, one that we should receive gratefully, nurture and tend responsibly, share justly and charitably, and return to God with abundance. This time spent with God specifically is PRAYER (conversation and time spent with God). It could also be expressed in other ways. To see how I am doing, I can take a look at those same questions: Do I take the time I should/could, do I appreciate the time I have, do I thank God enough and tell God how I feel? (In addition I might also ask…do I take the time to simply be with God to listen or just be in the quiet soul-soaking love that can permeate my very being if allowed).
Practically, how can this happen? Gratefully attending Church every Weekend, give at least 5 minutes every day to begin your day (maybe a short scripture to mull over throughout the day, or a prayer, or a short spiritual reflection), walk through the woods or the neighborhood praying for your neighbors (or those names in the parish books of prayer), find an online daily retreat to follow, take a weekend or day retreat, pray before every meal at home or away, say a prayer of thanksgiving before you lie down to sleep….
This Lent let’s see how we can take a real look at our stewardship of time and how we give back to God for this abundant GIFT. Make a pledge, write it down, and see how it might change your life.
Fr. Chuck