Transforming Stewards: Are you ready?

San Pablo Parish launched Spirituality on Stewardship last December 4 with a liturgical celebration presided by the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Allan T. Rodriguez. He was also assisted by Rev. John Patrick P. Pelonio, Parish Stewardship Team Leader. Fr. Allan shared his insights on stewardship through the homily focusing on the spiritual principle which is the Law of the Gift coined by St. John Paul II. It can be formulated as “your being increases in the measure that you give it away.” When we experience the Law of the Gift, we are faced with two realities. First, we are never fulfilled in this life unless we give completely ourselves to God and to the people around us. Second, we can never outdo God’s generosity.

Photo by Catherine V. Sison

He also added that if we have observed the readings for that day, it spoke of how the people should strive for transformation. The attitude for change should be like the intrepid child vividly portrayed in the first reading, “… and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the young lion shall browse together, with a little child to guide them. The cow and the bear shall be neighbors, together their young shall rest; the lion shall eat hay like the ox. The baby shall play by the cobra’s den, and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.” How then can I become an intrepid kid? Stewardship is the fearless response to our calling in the Sacrament of Baptism.

Psalm 116:12 poses to us a question, “how can I repay the Lord for all his goodness to me?” An article written by a priest suggested that we sing one of the old children’s songs, “The Magic Penny.” “Love is something if you give it away, you end up having more. It’s just like a magic penny, hold it tight and you won’t have any. Lend it, spend it, and you’ll have so many. They’ll roll all over the floor.” (Catherine V. Sison)