Jesus Christ King of the Universe	” …whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40 Most of us are generous when it’s convenient for us. We are generous when we have the time or the money. But real generosity is the opposite of that. It means giving of one’s time, money, compassion, forgiveness or mercy when it’s not c0onvenient to us, when it’s not on our schedule, but on the other person’s timeline.
33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time	”Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you have been faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.” Matthew 25:21 God calls us to nurture and develop the gifts He has given us and then generously return a portion with increase. He doesn’t want us to waste or hoard the gifts He has given us. He expects us to grow our gifts, to use them wisely, and to be generous with them. Unfortunately, many of us are not generous in proportion to all that God has given us. God asks us to be generous with all our gifts, especially the one that means the most to you.
32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time	” Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:13 Many of us have put off doing something because we think we are too busy. We’ve all said, “I’ll do it later when I have time.” Unfortunately, too many of us apply this attitude to our Faith. Jesus’ call is urgent, in the here and now, in your current circumstances. How is God calling you to use your gifts today? Don’t delay. None of us is guaranteed tomorrow.
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time	”Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12 The world celebrates people in the spotlight and those who have the most of everything. We think celebrity, money and possessions is the key to happiness. Yet, our world is filled with more loneliness, anxiety, and depression than ever before. The key to a happy life is relationship. Relationship with God and each other. Trust is the foundation of any good relationship and humility is the seed of trust.
30th Sunday in Ordinary Time	”You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37 Do you put other “gods” before God? Is your love of money, power, status, comfort or some personal possession greater than your love for God? Do you recognize that everything you have and that everything you are is a gift from God? Putting God first in everything helps keep us from becoming a slave to our possessions and to our pride.
29th Sunday in Ordinary Time	”Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21 Everything we are and everything we have belongs to God. We aren’t “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts God has given each of us. All God is asking is that we give back a portion of what He gave us. This is the essence of Stewardship. God should be our first priority in everything. All else comes second, especially our money.
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time	”My God will fully supply whatever you need…” Philippians 4:19 God really does provide for those who are grateful and generous. This is very difficult for people that don’t live a stewardship lifestyle to believe. People are skeptical and say it’s just coincidence. If you are skeptical, try living a stewardship lifestyle for just one month — be generous with your gifts of time in prayer, talent in charitable works, and treasure, then see how God provides for your needs.
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time	”The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner stone…” Matthew 21:42 Jesus was rejected by the religious and political leaders of his day, as well as ordinary citizens, but he was still obedient to God, the Father. Similarly, living a stewardship lifestyle may cause you to be “rejected” by others, but we, too are called to be obedient. Saying grace before a meal in a restaurant may attract some strange looks from some, but to others it is a sign that God is alive and well!
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time	”Do nothing out of selfishness; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves…” Philippians 2:3 Pride and ego are hard things to control. We see how others act or dress and think we are superior to them. We idolize our own self-image. But, if we truly believe everything is a gift from God, we recognize all the people that God has put in our lives as gifts! We are grateful for how they enrich our lives. Pray every day for the people in your life: your family, your friends and those who make you angry.
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time	”Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.” – Matthew 20:16 You’ve heard the saying “it’s not where you start, but how you finish.” This certainly applies to this Bible passage. We have a responsibility not only for our own lives, but for the lives of others as well. We are called to generously share our gifts with others, not hoard them for our own use. Our sincere gratitude and cheerful generosity will help us live “God-centered” lives and not “self-centered” lives.
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time	”For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s” – Romans 14:8 This is the essence of stewardship — everything we have and everything we are a gift from God. We aren’t “owners” of anything, we are merely “stewards” of the gifts that God has given us, especially our very own lives. Pray to God, daily, and ask Him how He is calling you to the live the life that He intended for you.
23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time	“You, son of man, I have appointed watchman for the house of Israel…” – Ezekiel 33:7 Many of us are generous with our gifts. However, many of us are not generous in proportion to the gifts we have been given. How often do we give at the minimum level required? Remember, the Lord calls us to nurture and develop our gifts and to give back with increase. He calls us to be generous with all the gifts, especially the one that means the most to us.
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time	What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” – Matthew 16:26 St. Francis of Assisi said, “Remember, you are what you are in the eyes of God, and nothing else.” We often forget this stewardship wisdom when we spend all of our time, talent and treasure to gain more of the world’s riches. We need to set our priorities based on God’s values and not the values of the material world.
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time	“Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid?” – Romans 11:35 St. Paul reminds us of a central fact of stewardship. We cannot give God anything – He already owns it all. God made everything, including us. Since we are made in His image, we too, are called to be generous. How we use our God-given gifts becomes our gift back to Him. Gratitude for all we have been given opens our hearts to joyful generosity! And, through our generosity, we just may be the answer to someone else’s prayer.
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time	“Or who has given the Lord anything that he may be repaid?” – Romans 11:35 St. Paul reminds us of a central fact of stewardship. We cannot give God anything – He already owns it all. God made everything, including us. Since we are made in His image, we too, are called to be generous. How we use our God-given gifts becomes our gift back to Him. Gratitude for all we have been given opens our hearts to joyful generosity! And, through our generosity, we just may be the answer to someone else’s prayer.
20th Sunday in Ordinary Time	“For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.” – Romans 11:29 God has a special mission in mind for each of us. He has given us the gifts we need to accomplish that mission. We are called to be good stewards by using those gifts to do the work that He has planned for each of us. If we deny our gifts or fail to use them as God calls us to use them, then some part of His work will be left undone. Each of us has a part in God’s salvation plan.
19th Sunday in Ordinary Time	“He said, ‘Come.’ Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.” – Matthew 14:29 When you hear Jesus calling, do you responded immediately and trust that He knows what He’s doing? If so, you are walking on water! When we say “yes” to Jesus, we feel the power of his presence in our lives. We can feel the freedom it gives us! Listen how Jesus is calling you to live the extraordinary life He has intended for you.