Podcasts

Lord, Save Me!

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

Have you ever embarked on a new venture? Maybe it involved a move across the country to start a new job, or resigning a corporate position to start your own company. At this time of year, many young people are going away to college for the first time. In most cases, we start out with great excitement. But after a short while, the strong winds of challenges and obstacles arise, causing us to become frightened. The initial excitement gets replaced by fear and doubt.

That’s what happened to Peter in Sunday’s Gospel. In Matthew 14:29-30, Jesus said to him, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and with great excitement and enthusiasm, began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he felt how strong the wind was, he became frightened and began to sink. He cried out, “Lord, save me!”

Living stewardship can be like that. Jesus calls to us, “Come. Come close to Me. Trust Me. Be a good steward of all of my gifts and blessings to you.” You hear His message. You embrace it with great enthusiasm – “Yes, Lord, I will.” But soon you realize that the call of stewardship is to live like Jesus, to love unconditionally and give courageously – beyond what you think you can. And so you falter. You begin to sink.

Fear not. Jesus will catch you. Step out in what little faith you have and trust God to provide. St. Francis de Sales said, “Do not fear what may happen tomorrow. The same loving Father who cares for you today will care for you tomorrow and every day. Be at peace and put aside all anxious thoughts.”

Be the best disciple you can be and put God first in every area of your life – including your budget. Give generously out of gratitude for all the blessings God gives to you. If you falter, cry out like Peter, “Lord, save me!” Trust that God will catch you and help you to continue on this wonderful, exciting, adventure of stewardship.

                                                                                                                                                                                Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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Will It Be Enough?

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

Do you ever worry that what you give just won’t be enough to make a difference? The Apostles surely had that same concern. In Matthew 14:15-20, they must have worried, “Will it be enough? How can 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish possibly feed thousands?”

But here we have yet another example of Jesus taking our meager gifts and with overwhelming abundance, providing for people’s needs. He tells the apostles, “Bring them here to me.” They obeyed. They gave what they had. Jesus takes it, looks up to heaven in prayer, and gives thanks to God for their gifts. You know how this goes, they collected 12 baskets of leftovers.

And this is how it goes with our giving. He takes our gifts, however meager we may think they are, and multiplies them to meet everyone’s needs. In praise and thanksgiving to the Father, and enlisting the help of the disciples, He provides for all.

In this event, Jesus demonstrates the sacramental principle behind Stewardship: From→Through→To. From the power and graciousness of God, through Jesus, the Church and His priests, He provides for us.

Everything we are and all that we have are gifts to us from God. How blessed are we?! When we embrace the truth of that, we can’t help but respond. In humble gratitude, we receive God’s gifts gratefully and develop them as best we can. We then share them out of love and justice with those in need.

We are blessed and so we give. St Paul tells us that if we give eagerly, it is acceptable according to what we have (2 Cor 8:12). We give what we can from what we have and trust that God will use our gifts to bless others.

What if we all lived this stewardship principle: From→Through→To? We would transform our church. We would change the world.

                                                                                                                                                                           Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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What are You Searching For?

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

We hear from Jesus about a merchant searching for fine pearls. And when he finds the pearl of great price, he sells everything to get it. What are you searching for? What is the finest possession you could have—the pearl of great price? What are you willing to sell to get it?

It seems too often that too many of us strive to acquire the highest-end merchandise and go on the most exotic excursions thinking having and doing these things will make us happy and bring a sense of satisfaction to our life. But isn’t it true that after get those things, we find the happiness they brought lasts only for a short while. It’s temporary. Deep down, we know something is missing, that there must be more. The happiness the world offers, we know, is fleeting.

At the end of the day, we know that the greatest gift we could ever have—the pearl of great price—is eternal life. Life eternal with God is the happiness we truly desire, and frankly, is beyond our understanding. The hope of receiving that gift should drive our actions love others which fills our days with the joy and peace we truly seek.

Eternal life in the kingdom of heaven is the pearl of great price. It is worth selling out for with all that we have and all that we are.

St Faustina said, “A humble soul does not trust itself, but places all its confidence in God.” How would your life be if in your confidence in God, you sold everything to buy this pearl of eternal life, trusting that all will work out for good for those who love God (Rm. 8:28)? That is living Stewardship.

                                                                                                                                                                  Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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Parable, Parable, a lot of Parables

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

This past Sunday, Jesus proposed parable. We know Jesus used a lot of parables to teach. Scholars argue – that’s what they do – but they estimate a range of between 30 and 50 parables in the Gospels. This particular one is the parable of the Mustard seed in Matthew 13. He tells us that it is the smallest of all the seeds. Yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. So large, it becomes a bush that birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.

I love this parable. My friend Craig likes to ask, “Can a mustard seed move a mountain?” I think this parable shows that with God the answer is ‘yes.’ We see in it that God takes something small, seemingly inconsequential, and does something extraordinary. He does that with our gifts, too.

Think about it – as God owns everything, any gift we make is small by comparison. But, when we give what we can – willingly, lovingly, and eagerly (2Cor. 8:11-12), we can trust that God takes that, grows it, multiplies it, and does miraculous things, like feeding thousands with just a few loaves and fish.

Our gifts combine with the gifts of others of goodwill so that the resources and talents available to help and serve become huge. Together, our giving makes a meaningful impact. We become a part of the Gospel mission to feed, clothe, house, educate, and help the most vulnerable amongst us. And that builds the kingdom of God right here on earth. We literally change the world. Certainly, we help our community.

So, step out in faith and give. Venerable Fulton Sheen said, “When we die to something, something comes alive within us. When we give, we die to self, charity comes alive.”

Giving expresses our love and makes our charity come alive. Giving is our praise and thanksgiving for all the blessings and benefits God gives to us.

                                                                                                                                                         Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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What’s the Point of Giving?

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

Does this thought resonate with you, “The needs are so great, my meager donation won’t make a dent. So, what’s the point of giving?” Frankly, this illumines one of the great advantages of being a part of a church.

The mission of the Church is to glorify God and continue the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, which we know from Matthew 25 is to feed, clothe, house, heal and help those in need. In other words, to serve the needs of the poor. On my own, I can make but a little difference. But, when I combine my offering with your generosity, then the parish to can make a meaningful impact. We are stronger together.

You don’t think your giving matters? Give anyway because giving shows your love for God. Giving is about your response to God for all the blessings He gives to you. Giving makes you a part of the majestic mission of the church to serve the poor.

St. Julie Billiart, foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur during the French Revolution told us, “Do not be anxious. Go straight on, forgetful of self, letting the spirit of God act instead of your own.” I love that—we give forgetful of self, letting the Holy Spirit act with our gift.

Consider a couple of thoughts about the spiritual benefits of giving:

  • As disciples of Jesus, we should strive to be like Him. Whenever we give, we are being like Him.
  • When we give, we experience a unique closeness to God, our Father that only comes to us as we are generous. Like all parents, God wants to see His children being kind and generous and loving. God loves a cheerful giver

Giving is an act of praise and worship of God. It is the best expression of gratitude you can make for all the blessings He gives to you. Give what you can and trust that God will cause your gift to fall on fertile soil and produce a hundred-fold. (Mt 13: 8)

                                                                                                                                                            Photo Credit: Robert Davis

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