Saint Frances Cabrini Parish

Father Kleppner - January 18^th 2004

As we begin a new year, we might reflect on the following question: To what is your life committed? For a multitude of people today it could be summed up in one word: money. People are bowing before the god, mammon. We do this even though we know we can’t take it with us.

Chuck Swindell in his book Strengthening Your Grip, gives a delightful illustration of the truth. He tells about a friend of his who was in need of a dark suit to wear to a funeral. He had very little money, so he went to the local thrift shop in search of a bargain. Much to his amazement, they had a solid black suit that fit him exactly - at a very reasonable price. As he paid for the suit, he inquired how they could possibly sell such nice suits so cheaply. The thrift shop manager smiled and said that the suits had once been owned by the local mortuary. They had used them on deceased persons for funerals, then removed them before the burial.
The man felt a little uncomfortable wearing a suit that had been on a corpse, but since no one else would know, and he really did need a suit badly, why not? Everything went fine until he casually started to put his hands in the pockets of his new suit. It was then that he discovered that his pants had no pockets! And the truth came home to him. Why would a dead man need pockets? We leave it all behind.
To what or to whom is your life committed? We have been called to be committed to something that is eternal, that is ennobling, that is earth-shaking.
How about a commitment to the stewardship way of life. The person who takes this step will find other commitments flowing naturally into his or her life. That person will want to give generously of his time in Christian service. He or she will look upon the giving of material substance as a privilege.
The question of how much time should be given to Christian service must be thought through. Guidance must be offered concerning the amount or percentage of one’s money which should be given for the Lord’s work. But the basic step is taken when commitment to the stewardship way of life is made. This means receptivity, open-mindedness, earnestness, desire to serve. With such an attitude, the Christian can grow in grace as the means of grace are offered.
Something tragic goes on in the lives of most of us. It is failure to fulfill life’s greatest possibilities. And something grand and glorious could be happening day by day. It would be the joining of life to high Christian purposes which enrich both those who serve and those who are blessed with the service rendered.
Real religious faith has to do with all of life and not with just a fragment of it. Christianity is more than a creed to be embraced - it is a way of life to be lived. And the living of that life; the awakening of a person to a world beyond the world of sense; response of his or her mind and his or her spirit to God; this is a part of what we call a person’s stewardship - a person’s best way to fulfillment.
INVEST TIME IN IMPORTANT THINGS
As we live from day to day, we are investing our time and talents in various things. Are they really important? As Christian stewards, do we willingly volunteer some of our time and talent to the work of our church? Whatever we are doing had better be important. It costs us a day of our lives.
WE MANAGE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US
A steward is defined as: An administrator or supervisor; a manager. As people of faith, we manage what God has given us. We are accountable to Him for how we use His gifts. We have both an individual and community obligation as stewards. We need to personally decide how to develop and commit the abilities and possessions we have. We must also respond to our faith community, the Church, which provides us with opportunities to heighten the effect of our stewardship.
INDICATION OF OUR VALUES
v It is quite one thing to say that we are committed to serving God and quite another thing to demonstrate that with our pocketbooks. But the extent to which we are willing to do that, reveals whether we are offering to God that which costs nothing, or that which is truly sacrificial.

FATHER KLEPPNER ARCHIVES

115 Trinity Drive
Aliquippa, PA 15001 (724) 775-6363 Phone
(724) 775-3848 Fax

Father Kleppner - January 18th 2004

FATHER KLEPPNER ARCHIVES

St. Frances Cabrini Parish

Father Kleppner - January 18^th 2004