Stewardship is such an integral part of the fall and early winter holiday season. CROP walks, Thanksgiving food drives, and Giving Trees create a bustling of busy hands and happy hearts. All this giving of our time and treasure is usually not all that difficult. Most of the time, it is considered more of a chain of annual events on the calendar instead of a strenuous, life-giving sacrifice. Yet when we stop to ponder why we participate in these stewardship events, our minds eventually turn to the people supported by these efforts.
Collecting and delivering food is a work made light by many hands, but to that one people who spend most of their days hungry, an awareness of our sacrifices becomes extremely meaningful, even life-giving. This reflection could lead us to the Parable of the Good Samaritan:
“In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” ’ ” (Lk 10:30-34)
Jesus describes how so many busy people passed by without a thought, not wanting to take the time and coming up with reasons why the injured person shouldn’t be helped. Yet the one person who was least expected to make the sacrifice, did. The Samaritan, who had more reasons than anyone why he should not stop to help, was actually the one who showed the most compassion, the most mercy, the most empathy. But he did not just stop. He cared for the man and he treated his wounds, took him to an inn, paid for his care and checked in on him later. Surely when this man, this Samaritan, reached heaven, God said, “Thank you for taking care of Me!”
There are so many opportunities in our day to welcome God through the face of the least and the last. Even if our chance to welcome Him comes through a fun experience where we serve with our friends and neighbors in the community, handing out supplies, delivering meals, wrapping gifts for those who have limited means, this still counts!
Think of the many times that in doing something small, we may have actually welcomed God Himself, the Christ Child, or an angel of God. It has happened many times before. Did not Abraham welcome strangers into his tent, and they turned out to be messengers sent from God (Gen 18)? Didn’t Tobit make a friend of the Archangel Raphael, even before he knew he was even an angel (Tob 12)? It is even wondrous to think about how many times Mother Teresa cleaned the wounds of Jesus as she ministered to the lepers in Calcutta.
Our decision to help others acknowledges the same hospitality the Blessed Virgin Mary herself gave when she answered in the affirmative that she would carry, give birth to, and raise the Messiah. Her life-giving sacrifice brought a peace and love into this world that has never been rivaled. She welcomed an angel, a messenger of God, with her “yes,” then followed through with her promise of sacrifice and stewardship. She did not simply agree to help and then forget. She stayed with her charge until He died on the cross for our sins. She made the ultimate sacrifice, but just imagine the joy it brought to her and Joseph to raise and intimately love such an infinitely sweet boy as Jesus. In turn, her sacrifice led to Jesus’ sacrifice that would become our salvation.
Let us think about our reasons for stewardship as we approach this holiday season. Let our acts of helping others not be a mundane duty, but a life-giving support that keeps on giving.
April Parker is a parishioner and teacher at St. Pius X School in Greensboro. She is also an author of historical fiction and educational resources for teachers.