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Divine Mercy

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

On Divine Mercy Sunday we read in Acts 2:44-45, “All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need.”

Oh My Goodness! Can you imagine? Look at the example these disciples set. They heard the good news of Jesus’s resurrection. They believed and trusted. When they encountered the promises of the resurrection, they willingly sold assets and gave for the common good of all. What a great demonstration of detachment from material goods. What a legacy of faith and trust! 

They gave and trusted that God would provide for them. They trusted God’s divine mercy and showed mercy by caring more for the needs of others than for their own. They were not coerced. In their joy over the good news of the resurrection, they couldn’t help it. They were more concerned with giving to the needs of the community than for their own financial comfort. That is a radical departure from common economic practice – then and now.

We know that living our Christian faith is counter cultural. The foundation of that is the mindset we as stewards embrace—namely, the truth that “It’s Not Mine.” Everything is a gift from God. Every moment of time, every ounce of talent, and every dime of treasure we have is because God gives them to us. We are to receive them gratefully, develop and manage them well, and use them for the good of all. In gratitude and with utmost humility, we are to return them with increase to the Lord.

What might our community be, what would our world look like if we all lived this way? What would your legacy be if you lived and gave in such radical faith?

When you do, how do you decide how much to give, and to whom? Look for charities that serve the poor and most vulnerable amongst us by feeding, clothing, housing, educating, and helping. Give to them.

St. Basil the Great said, “The bread in your cupboard belongs to the hungry; the coat hanging unused in your closet belongs to the one who needs it.”

            Give in service to those most in need. Give because It’s Not Your Money.

 

 

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You are the Temple of God

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

St. Paul asks us, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God?” You, me, all of us are the resulting legacy of the building that Paul started on the foundation of Jesus Christ. He goes on to tell us that he laid the foundation. That foundation is Jesus. And others are building on it. 

Who are those others? The church and the saints who came before us. Their work and influence, their ministry is their legacy. Their legacy tells us who we are. We are God’s temple. We are holy. We are loved. We know how important we are by Jesus’s zealous cleansing of the temple. Jesus drove out the money changers so that the temple would be clean. He wants our building sites to be clean and strong so that we can continue to build on His foundation.

How is your building coming along? Do you have zeal for creating your legacy and building the kingdom of God right where you are? Are you building with pride and complacency, or with faith and obedience? Are you zealous to acquire more stuff, or zealous in caring for the needs of the poor? Are you building and creating a legacy of zeal for the temples of God near to you–your family and community, as Jesus, Paul, and the Saints did?

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Be a Witness

Published on: by Joe Galloway Comment

How to be a witness? Jesus tells the disciples just before He ascends into heaven that they will be His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, and throughout the world. What does it mean? What does it take to be a witness?

Let me ask you to approach it this way:  Take a moment and think about all the blessings in your life. What are they? Family, Job, Health are cited most often, and they’re big and important blessings. But did you also think of God’s unconditional love? Can you fathom that the God who created the universe created you. He knows you and He loves you. He gives you unmerited grace and mercy and forgiveness. He suffered and died on the cross for our sins so that we can have eternal life with God in heaven.

Oh My Goodness. It is overwhelming. 

Acknowledging these blessings elicits a response. And how else can we respond but in all humility, give praise and thanksgiving to God. To live our life with intention to honor God. We do that when we pray and when we give back, when we give courageously of our Time, Talents, and Treasure. This is how good stewardship is a witness.

Living stewardship sets a great example for others. People see you doing good which glorifies God (Mt 5:16). They see how your participation in the larger and more majestic mission of the church brings you such joy and happiness that they will want to learn more about how you get that. They want this for themselves. This is being a witness. This is evangelizing. This is creating your legacy. This is how we are the very disciples Jesus tells to be – His witnesses throughout Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

Embracing the truth of God giving us everything, and so honoring Him by giving to the needs of others out of our love for Him is living stewardship. Living stewardship is one of the best witnesses we can make. How does your giving bear witness to God’s love for you and all the blessings and benefits He gives to you?

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