St. Joseph/St Raphael Springfield at 225 E. High Street, Springfield, OH 45505-1052 US - Time

Journeying through Lent as a Family Booklet
Journeying through Lent as a Family Booklet

God has gifted each of us with 24 hours in each day, and while the number of days each of us has been given will differ, it is important to effectively manage those hours. We should balance the hours we spend at work, with our families, in prayer, in recreation, and in service to God. Each of these commitments is important and we must ask ourselves: Do we work too much? Do we spend meaningful time in prayer each day? Do we spend quality time with our family? Do we spend an appropriate portion of our time utilizing our talents for the good of others in our parish and community?
Our time, our talents, and our material possessions constitute just some of the treasures we have been given by our very generous God.  Sharing these gifts involves being with God in prayer and worship, using our gifts to help build God's Kingdom among our family and friends, our workplace, and our communities and parishes.   It means becoming ministers of the Gospel in our communities and parishes in new (and perhaps not-so-new) ways!
"Men do not light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket. They set it on a stand where it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, your light must shine before men so that they may see goodness in your acts and give praise to your heavenly father." (Mark 5:14-16)
The church teaches that the primary vocation of the laity is to transform the world to Christ.  We do this best when we share and use the gifts our generous God has given us in love and justice first at home, then in the workplace, then in our communities and parishes.  Certainly, however, the parish is a focal point for coming together as disciples of Jesus.  It is in the parish that we join with one another to celebrate our faith, share in the Eucharist, and become empowered to be Eucharist (the Body of Christ) in the world.  Our parish is central to our gathering for prayer and worship, celebrating the Sacraments, meeting for and planning together the work of the church, and celebrating the gift of each other.  We have an important responsibility to our parish to plan ways we can use and share our gifts there, but we must remember that our sense of stewardship needs to be kept broad and holistic.
The life of a Christian steward models the life of Jesus.  It is challenging and even difficult, in many respects, yet intense joy comes to those who take the risk to live as Christian stewards.  Women and men who seek to live as stewards learn that.
"All things work for good for those who love God." (Rom. 8: 28)

(Back)