Sister Jodie Kearney was telling the story of her giving spiritual direction to a woman who had had a rough childhood – considerable family issues and some abuse. This person happened to be a student of St Joseph’s school in her elementary years. When Sister Jodie asked how she made it through her difficult childhood, she said that each morning on the way to school, when she turned the corner, she saw her classroom light on. Then she knew all would be well. She experienced at St Joseph’s school the strength, the faith, and the love that helped her become the woman she is today.
To me this such a telling story of the value of St. Joseph’s School.
The education of our children involves more than reading, writing, and arithmetic. The education of our youth involves touching into the spiritual hunger and thirst for faith, hope, and love that enables then to value the spiritual dimension of life and a source of their inner self-esteem.
In the first Scripture reading today from the prophet Isaiah as well as from today’s Gospel, we read: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” The light referred to is not just the light from an electric light bulb; rather the light we seek is the light of our faith, the light of the person of Jesus.
We are grateful for the light of Christ that illumines all that we do. This is true at St Joseph’s School, and it is equally in all the ministries of our parish life.
In today’s Gospel, we reflect on the call of the first disciples – Peter and Andrew, James and John. “Come after me.” Jesus speaks these words to Peter, Andrew, James and John. He speaks that same invitation to you and me. The first disciples left behind their fishing nets and followed Jesus. As we reflect on the call of the first disciples and how they left everything with no strings attached, we are invited to reflect on the call of God in our lives. The disciples embraced the mission of teaching others what they have learned from Jesus. The disciples are being called to become conscious of a deeper dimension of life, the spiritual sea in which all people swim.
In considering the call of the first followers of Jesus, we find the opportunity for rethinking and reclaiming the varied calls that have made us who we are.
Jesus’ inaugural address to the apostles was rather brief: “Follow me.”
In choosing Peter and Andrew and James and John, Jesus wasn’t choosing the best and the brightest, but Jesus was developing a team, a team that he would collaborate with. The first apostles trusted completely in the Lord and were willing to leave everything to follow Jesus.
As we reflect on the call of the first apostles, this leads us to pray over the call each of us receives to be a disciple of Jesus. In asking ourselves what our level of commitment to follow Jesus is, I share Pope Francis' dream. I dream that we will give Jesus first place in our lives. That we will hear him say, "Follow me." And that we will do our part in gathering God’s people together as the faith community of St. Joseph’s: including those who have become discouraged, those who have drifted from the faith, and families with small children, high school students and young adults.
Today we celebrate in our parish Stewardship Commitment Sunday. Our spirituality of stewardship calls us to a deeper awareness of how we respond to the call of God in our lives. Our commitment to stewardship is holistic and all-embracing. This includes a stewardship of time, a stewardship of talent, and a stewardship of treasure.
Our stewardship of time is our prayer life. Our prayer is our conversation with God in which we speak to God from our hearts and, even more, we listen to God’s call and God’s plan for our life. In our stewardship of time, we live life with an attitude of gratitude thanking God for the blessings of life. We also confess that we are sinners who stand in need of the healing forgiveness of God.
Our stewardship of talents calls to use our God-given talents in the service of others and for the building up of our faith community. More than volunteers who help out with our parish ministries, we are stewards who are missioned by Christ to serve, to help, and to love others.
Our stewardship of treasure calls to share from our financial resources for the building of our parish life. It’s not heresy to say that our check book is part of our spirituality. My prayer is that sharing is not a burden but an opportunity to serve and make a difference in our parish. I intend to increase my tithing this year as I very much believe in the mission of St Joseph’s School and in the mission and the ministry of our parish.
On a practical note, we invite you to place your commitment card that you received in the mail in the collection today. There is only one collection; so place the commitment card and your offering in the collection. If you have forgotten to bring your commitment card with you; not to worry, there are extras in the pew and we will give you a couple of minutes after the homily to fill out the stewardship commitment card.
Be assured that your stewardship commitment is not a legal contract. If your financial circumstances change, you are welcome to alter your level of giving. Your commitment is your response to the call of God in your life.
I bring you back to the woman who was receiving spiritual direction from Sister Jodie and was describing her rough childhood. She as a child was a student at St. Joseph’s School. When Sister Jodie asked how she made it through her difficult childhood, she said that each morning on the way to school, when she turned the corner, she saw her classroom light on. Then she knew all would be well.
When we experience the love and compassion of others, when we experience and are in touch with the spiritual dimension of our lives, when we embrace the light of Christ and allow ourselves to be loved by our God, we will always know that all will be well, very, very well.