What would you consider a serious commitment? We might think of a serious commitment as one that is legally binding or made in writing. Many of us might not consider our “New Year’s Resolutions” serious commitments. Maybe that is the reason we see many of them on our lists year after year, or maybe that is just me… Many Parishes conduct a “stewardship” campaign, which asks parishioners to share (in writing) their time, talents, and treasures to the Parish over the course of the year. While we did not do that at the Cathedral this past fall, the Cathedral has done that in the past. I am not sure what the response was then, but I tend to take stewardship practices more seriously having written them down. In that spirit, maybe this is a good opportunity to write down how we can be a practicing steward. Let’s see what a stewardship way of life looks like in 2018. What gifts of stewardship can we give to Jesus, just as the Magi did?
The Magi did not seek out Jesus to gawk at Him, they sought to worship the newborn Lord. Part of that worship included offering gifts. I read an article from a priest years ago (I am embarrassed that I forgot his name, but his message stuck with me) that mentioned the three gifts offered to Jesus from the Magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh and how they related to gifts of stewardship. He explained that we can find symbolic meanings of stewardship behind these gifts. For gold, we might see this in relationship to treasure, which seems the most obvious out of the three. Frankincense is an ingredient in the incense used at Mass, which then can represent the time we offer in worship and prayer with God. Finally, he went on to mention that it takes effort and knowledge to transform and create perfumes, myrrh is a fitting symbol for the gift of talent. All of these gifts that the Magi presented to Jesus represent gifts of time, talent, and treasure we can share with the Cathedral.
Some of you reading this might not be a parishioner of the Cathedral, which is no surprise being the spiritual home for the Diocese. Rather you are a parishioner or not, each of us has a role to play in stewardship at the Cathedral.
• Your choice to worship with us each Sunday or as often as possible is an example of your commitment to stewardship of time.
• Your choice to share your talents, rather through Reading, Music, or a warm welcome to a in-pew neighbor, represents your willingness to share your talents.
• Your decision to place a financial gift in the basket to
support the Cathedral community, or your online gift, shows care and attention to a shared responsibility of our spiritual home.
Each of us has a role to play. During 2018, you will have the opportunity to share your time, talents, and treasure and we hope you will engage with us in one or all of these stewardship practices. We are a unique place, made up of parishioners, visitors, Catholics, returning Catholics, lapsed or anonymous Catholics, and faithful from all denominations. To provide nourishing Liturgies and sacraments, dynamic faith formation resources, and engaging and welcoming ministries, we need your help. As you reflect on your New Year’s Resolutions for 2018, consider a resolution to be a steward. Like the Magi, take a journey to a deeper relationship with Jesus by practicing a stewardship way of life in 2018.
Katie Price is the Coordinator for Discipleship and Stewardship at the Cathedral. She comes with an extensive background in this field after helping dioceses and parishes across the nation meet their goal of making discipleship a priority in their parishes. If you would like to learn more about the work she is doing, email her at [email protected]