Responsibilities of the Beloved
Prayer of Stewardship
“Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the good steward, who redeemed Adam and Eve of their failed stewardship by offering Thyself for the life of the world. Thou didst teach us in the feeding of the multitudes that whatever we give to God is returned to us multiplied. Thou didst praise those good and faithful servants in the parable of the talents who returned to the Master their gifts. So help us to learn the joy of stewardship, remembering that everything we have comes from Thee and belongs to Thee. We know, Lord, that we often live in fear of the future and insecurity. Help us to remember the lilies of the field and so to trust in Thy providence. Grant to us a cheerful
and generous spirit. Enkindle in the hearts of all Thy people a zealous love for Thee. For Thou art the Good Steward, and to Thee we give thanks, praise and glory, together with Thy Father who is from everlasting and Thine all holy good and life-giving Spirit now and ever and onto the ages of ages. Amen”
How blessed we truly are to have received so much from our Lord. Our families, friends, possessions, the ability to do and, of course, the very air we breath are just a handful of the infinite blessings that our Father in Heaven has given to us freely — to have received so much undeservingly, we truly may consider ourselves ‘beloved’ in the eyes of God!
As recipients of this great love, we must strive to prayerfully find ways to honor the One who has given us so much. We attempt to offer the same love we receive by selflessly giving, as Christ selflessly gave. Through this giving of our time, talent, and treasure, we transcend the lonely and misleading title of individual, and become stewards in the Lord’s vineyard, maturing as members of the Body of Christ. The honor of being a steward in The Vineyard, and members of the Body, necessitates that we offer of our time, talents and treasures to our brothers and sisters in Christ, and the Church, which Christ Himself has established upon this earth as the hospital which heals through the sanctification of souls and bodies.
Now almost two-thirds through 2008, let us prayerfully and authentically examine our commitment to be stewards in the Vineyard of the Lord by asking ourselves if we have offered the best we have to the Lord by means of our time, talent, and treasure. Praying with your spiritual family in the context of the Divine LIturgy, uplifting and supporting the community through individual prayers, volunteering at the church through the numerous ministry programs, filling out and fulfilling a stewardship pledge card on an annual basis, etc.
As spiritual pilgrims, now at the beginning of a new Ecclesiastical year (September 1), let us mature as stewards of the House of God, and (re)commit ourselves to an active life in the Church at Saint Basil’s. The church office can provide information on various forums through which you may continue or establish your involvement in the life of the Church, and/or provide stewardship pledge cards to be filled out. If we approach this stewardship journey with prayer, then to God will be all the glory!
Please read the stewardship prayer on the top of this page to establish the next step forward on your spiritual pilgrimage!
+ Fr Luke Palumbis