SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
6 MAY 2018
As
we continue to reflect on the Lord’s Resurrection during this Easter Season,
both the first Letter of John and the Gospel of John make a critical point
about the love of God. Not only is God
love, but God has loved us first. God loved
us in the Mystery of the Incarnation when Jesus took on human flesh. Jesus Christ demonstrates his incredible love
by giving his entire life on the cross for us.
We know the love of God as he remains in us. We imitate the love of God when we lay down
our lives. In that action, we understand
the intimate friendship which we share with the risen Lord and with each other
as members of his Body at this Eucharist.
You parents
know this kind of sacrificial love when you lay down your lives for your
children. There are countless examples
when each of us has responded to the love of God by laying down our lives for
another.
Please
consider another way of laying down your life for others. God has given each of us gifts and
talents. Be sure to take some time to
reflect to thank God for your talents.
Please consider sacrificing some time to give them in humble service to
our parish. Under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, our parish is active and alive, because so many parishioners are
grateful for their gifts and are willing to use those gifts to meet the needs
of our parish. Please pick up your
family packet in the Parish Life Center and pray over your decision.
You would
expect me to say these things. I have
come to believe the truth of the Gospel message. I also have a vested interest in making sure
that our parish remains alive and well.
For that reason, Cindy Hestad will tell her story of how she came to
participate in the Stewardship of Service at Saint Pius.
Greetings (Good
evening/morning)
My name is Cindy Hestad and I
am humbled to speak to you today about stewardship of service.
My husband Ron and I have
been married for 32 years. We have two children, Brad who is in the Army and
currently deployed in Afghanistan, and our daughter Hannah who is a second-grade
teacher here at Saint Pius X school.
As a family, we have been parishioners
of Saint Pius for about 24 years.
My involvement in our parish
has grown over the years but my main commitment of stewardship has been in
teaching religious education to children. Beyond teaching CCD, I also serve on
the parish council, coordinate the military board, meet with parents once a
month during Sunday catechesis, lead a book study group, and together with my
husband, meet with engaged couples as part of the Pre-Cana program. Next year I
am also looking forward to assisting with Saint Pius’ wonderful Family
Catechesis evenings.
Yes, my children are grown and no I don’t work
outside of the home. But it wasn’t always that way. My
involvement in the parish slowly grew over the years when my children were at
home and I was working full time and that is why I am so happy to share with
you today two little secrets (I think) of stewardship of service.
Trust me, I am not here to
tell you that stewardship means signing up for everything and volunteering for
hours on end. That is the beauty of it and the first secret. Stewardship can be
involvement in only one thing! Our
parish offers many, many different types of opportunities to serve. I started
with teaching CCD. I knew nothing about it but it interested me.
One year of teaching led me
to the next and the next and before you knew it I was over 10 years in.
Looking back over the years
of teaching I learned through my experience the second secret of stewardship….
Joy! A true gift from God!
The fruits I have received by
doing God’s work, which is what we are all called to do, have given me such
immense joy and has graced my life in ways that are beyond amazing!
Within my marriage, in my children’s lives, in
my friendships and most importantly, in my faith and love for Jesus.
God never called me to do His
work, no matter how difficult or easy, without giving me the desire to learn
and the gift of joy to want do more.
Where I thought I had no time….
God made time. Where I thought I couldn’t do something, God gave me the desire
to learn. Where I thought I was stepping way out of my comfort zone, God gave
me peace. All I did was check a little box indicating I was willing to help and
he took care of the rest and for that I am very thankful.
I sincerely believe that
embracing stewardship of service within my life has allowed me to serve from
the heart and to be better prepared for whatever God has planned for me.
As I conclude, please let me
leave you with a little visual to think about. How awesome will it be to stand
some day before the face of God and hear him say…. Well done, my good and
faithful servant!
Thank you for your time and I
wish you Christ’s peace and joy as you prayerfully consider where God is
calling your hands, your heart and your talent.
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