3 minute read
Stewardship: Drawing Closer To Christ And Our Church — By Job Yorek
By Job Yorek
Hello, brothers and sisters in Christ — my name is Job Yorek. My wife, Julie, and I, along with our daughter, Emma, are members of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. A few years ago, I was asked to help with the Religious Education program. I said “yes” and I am glad I did. I have also helped with other activities within our church and plan on continuing to do so. As a child, I served as an altar boy. All of my life I have observed my entire extended family participate and help with church activities, duties, and celebrations throughout the years. “BIG WHOOP” you might think, right?
Advertisement
Well, I was asked for my opinion about what stewardship means to me. After looking up the definition for the word “stewardship,” I found that “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care” best described stewardship for me. So now with that definition in mind, how can we share with our church our respective talents and gifts held under that stewardship? What do you think of when you hear the word “church”? Do you think of our beautiful physical brickand-mortar church? Or do you think of our spiritual one, the church into which we were all baptized, with Jesus as the head and all of us as the body? Well, I like to think of those two definitions of “church” as synonymous with one another, just as being stewards of our gifts and talents is synonymous with us being stewards of our church.
A couple years back, when I was asked to help with the Religious Education for our grade school students, I reluctantly said “yes,” even though I’m more of the silent type. I can honestly say that helping with the Religious Education program has been very rewarding and educational. I still don’t know all the correct answers, but I am really enjoying the journey, the beautiful facets, and the “ah-ha” and inspiring moments of learning and growing in our faith along the way.
Participating in stewardship activities is a fun, sometimes serious, and fulfilling way for us to show God our appreciation for the gifts we’ve been given. Stewardship is a way to thank Him for the wonderful gifts and talents that He has so uniquely given to each and every one of us. Can there be a more beautiful way to honor our God and foster and grow our gifts that we have been given? “Give and you shall receive. Knock and the door will be opened.”
Where would our church be, the church to which we all ascribe, had it not been for all those who have gone before us paving the way? And how about the ones among us now, who also generously give of their time, support, labor, sweat, and tears for our church? I applaud and appreciate all of you, past and present.
When you find yourself standing face to face with God, which we all know will happen one day, what will your response be if God asks you, “What have you done with your talents that you have received?” Are you going to be the one explaining that you hid them under a bushel basket for safekeeping? Or are you going to hear, “Job well done; you have made a return of twice as expected, seven times, or 70 times seven times as expected with the talents you received”?
So now, in conclusion, I ask you — how, what, where, and when will you step up? Why wouldn’t you dare to think about stepping out of your comfort zone for our church? Maybe you don’t quite realize what you have to offer our church. I believe that God has given each and every one of us a talent, whether or not you are aware of it yet. Do not be afraid to get out of your comfort zone and say “yes” to using your God-given talents for His honor, His church, our church, whether it be through your time, talent or treasure. The risk is so minute compared to the infinite reward that awaits us in our next unworldly life. What a wonderful way for us to help draw ourselves and others closer to God, our church, our Catholic community, and Jesus Christ Himself.
