Stewards of Our Neighbors: Jesus’ Parable of the Good SamaritanAfter many centuries of recounting Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) the story seems to have lost the “sting” Jesus intended for it. At the weekend Masses of July 9 and 10, we will once again hear the proclamation of this Gospel story which reveals Jesus’ encounter with the legal scholar and his response to the question: Who is my neighbor? Perhaps now is a good time to reflect more deeply on Jesus’ teaching and its practical implications for our lives today.

In the Gospel story Jesus affirms the legal scholar: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” But the lawyer asks: “And who is my neighbor?” This is the question that prompts Jesus to offer a story revealing the vastness of God’s mercy, and of course, Jesus’ expectation of his followers.

It is significant that Jesus offers a Samaritan as the ideal model of God’s mercy. Jews despised Samaritans as a lower form of humanity. So, of course, it provoked his audience when Jesus told of the priest, then the Levite, walking thoughtlessly by the half-dead robbery victim ly-ing at the side of the road. It is the third man, the Samari-tan, who stops, renders the victim first aid and generously pays the innkeeper in advance for taking care of the bru-tally beaten victim.

Jesus’ parable teaches us that the neighbor is the per-son we encounter in our daily lives who is in dire need of our help. We are called to be good stewards of our fellow human beings, God’s precious children whom we meet on our own journey in life. Our love and mercy are not con-fined to our families, friends, co-workers or fellow parish-ioners. The “sting” to the parable is that Jesus Christ expects

us, his followers, to extend his love and mercy to others regardless of their race, religion, gender, culture, ethnicity or social standing.

Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, uses the Parable of the Good Samaritan to urge us not only to imitate the mercy of Jesus in our personal lives, but to have the courage and compassion to promote a culture of Christ’s mercy in our society as well.

To be a disciple of Jesus Christ obliges us to love and show mercy to those we don’t know or recognize as “one of us.” The Samaritan in Jesus’ story did not see a stranger, alien or foreigner. He simply saw a suffering human being who needed help. Jesus asks: “So who was the neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” The legal scholar replied: “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to the scholar as he would say to us today: “Go and do likewise.”

International Catholic Stewardship Council

CATHOLIC STEWARDSHIPJuly 2016 • e-Bulletin

We are called to be good stewards of our fellow human beings, God’s

precious children whom we meet on our own journey in life.

A Community of Stewardsby Leisa Anslinger, author and co-founder of Catholic Strengths and Engagement Community (CSEC).

A few years ago, my daughter, Carrie, was entering college. As she participated in orientation, I was with parents of other incoming students, hearing about the university and the program in which she had enrolled. Parents and children then reconnected for lunch. Carrie was excited, as students are in such moments of transition, and she said something that has continued to bring a smile to me: “It’s like it’s a whole campus of geeks like me!” Carrie had found a new home, a place where she belonged. And her intuition about the university was spot-on. She thrived there because she knew there were others like herself who were committed to learning, growing, and maturing in this pivotal moment in life.

I think of that experience now, in light of the importance of our parish com-munities in leading people to live as disciples and stewards. Can our people look around themselves in our parishes and say, “It’s like a whole community of stewards like me?” Do our people recognize the difference living as a steward makes, in their lives and in the lives of all they touch through their giving of time, prayer, attention, resources, talent, and gifts? The Gallup organization’s engagement research illustrates the importance of belonging deeply within the parish, and how such belonging leads people toward spiritual commitment, lived out in daily life. Among the markers of such belonging is that people are able to say, “other members [of my parish] are committed to spiritual growth.” (Growing an Engaged Church, 82) When I first learned about the research from Dr. Al Winseman, he explained this item as, “When I look around myself, do I see others who are on the spiritual journey as I am?”

As stewardship leaders, we bear responsibility for fostering a parish culture in which stewardship is woven into the fabric of all we are and do. As a result, people will understand that they are “in this together,” committed to living and growing as disciples and stewards. As you walk into Sunday Mass, can you say to yourself, “This is a whole community of stewards like me?”

Gracious God,

You sent your Sonto proclaim the Good News,inspire us in faithand show us the wayto be good stewardsof Your mercy.

In this month of Julydedicated to the Most Precious Bloodof Jesus,grant us the wisdom to recognizethat through his giftof the Eucharistthere is but one cup of covenant and communion.

Give us the courage tomagnify your presencein word and deed.

And through your Spiritteach us to live,no longer for ourselves,but in Christ Jesuswho lives and reigns with Youand the Holy Spirit,one God forever and ever.

Amen.

A STEWARDSHIP PRAYER for July

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A quick check of July’s holiday calendar reveals this month to be one that celebrates national ice cream day (16th), national hot dog day (17th) and national paperback book day (30th). These and other quaint holidays all serve to underscore the fact that the month of July is probably ground zero for those “lazy, hazy, crazy” days of summer. If June finds us finishing off the graduation parties, August brings back-to-school sales. But July? July is swimming, picnicking, the lake or beach, and vacation. July brings Fourth of July parades and highways and airports jammed with travelers. How does one exercise the virtues of Christian stewardship during this noisy, boisterous, sun-filled month?

Hospitality is a big part of July, and essential to exercising Christian stewardship. July brings the easy, informal backyard kind of hospitality. Consider sharing a cook-out with neighbors you’ve been hoping to know better, the parish priest you normally see only on Sunday, or the family member who may be lonely this summer. Organize a block party. Invite the people next door over for a quiet evening on the patio.

Even though July has a “time off” feel to it, make sure you don’t extend that feeling to weekend Mass. If you travel, it’s now easy to locate a Catholic Church and find Mass times. It is also enlightening to experience sacred liturgy in a new environment at a different locale. If you’re staying home, July might be the time to visit a neighboring parish. Just remember that your home parish needs your financial support all during the summer months.

If July finds you able to engage in more leisurely reading in a lounge chair, hammock or on a beach towel, be a good steward of your spiritual life and supplement your summer reading list with a spiritual classic. And with the morning sun up early, perhaps become a contemplative by making a dawn prayer walk a healthy and spiritually nourishing habit during July.

Many charities host “runs” during the summer. But even if you’re not up to a 5K, they’re a good reminder that local charities need our support during July as they do every month. Consider offering one free afternoon to a food bank or shelter, especially if you can involve your children or grandchildren.

Let us also remain mindful that gratitude is fundamental to the Christian life and there is much to be grateful for during the warm, sunny days of July. Remember to begin each day with a grateful heart and a resolve to be a good steward of God’s abundant gifts.

Exercising Good Stewardship in the Month of July

Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago

Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodriguez Santiago was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, in 1918 to devout Catholic parents. After a fire destroyed the family home, he was raised in his grandmother’s house, where faith continued to be central to the lives of his family. He was the second of five siblings.

At age 13 Carlos became afflicted with ulcerative colitis, which would bring him considerable suffering the remainder of his life. Although a top student, his chronic illness would hurt his high school studies, curtail his university education, and prevent him from entering the religious life and the priesthood, which is what he truly desired. He educated himself in the arts, science, philosophy, religion and music. He taught himself how to play the piano and organ so he could immerse himself in the sacred music he loved so much.

Carlos worked as an office clerk in Caguas, at the Agriculture Experiment Station, part of the University of Puerto Rico. He spent most of his spare time and modest salary, however, evangelizing and sharing his love of Christ. He wrote and published religious education booklets at his own expense, organized Catholic study groups in various Puerto Rican towns and with prodigious energy encour-aged the involvement of the laity in promoting the Catholic faith.

He loved sacred liturgy. And at a time when the Mass and other liturgies were celebrated in Latin, he promoted liturgical renewal so that people would be able to hear and respond to the prayers of the liturgies in Spanish. He worked zealously for this renewal among bishops, clergy and laity alike, and he translated Latin and English liturgical texts into Spanish for his fellow Puerto Ricans.

Carlos died of cancer in 1963, when he was only 44 years old. It has been said of him that his life was marked by deep joy despite his physical sufferings, and he always had a positive, encouraging attitude. He cared little for possessions and money. A number of people testified that he was responsible for their own growth in faith because of his evangelization efforts and the way he lived his life. Some even testified that Carlos’ zeal for Christ awakened in them their vocation to religious life.

Carlos was beatified by Saint John Paul II in 2001. He is the first Caribbean-born layman to be beatified, and the first Puerto Rican to be declared “Blessed” by the Church. His feast day is July 13.

STEWARDSHIP SAINT FOR JULY

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At a time when the Mass and other liturgies were celebrated in Latin, Carlos promoted liturgical renewal so that people would be able to hear and respond to the prayers of the liturgies in Spanish.

In a recent newspaper essay titled In Defense of the Three-Week Vacation, the writer makes the case for longer American respites from work. Jynne Dilling argues for trips that take us away from cell phone coverage and internet, and urges relaxation that includes re-

flective walks at dawn and time to get lost in a foreign habitat (New York Times, 9 June 2016). Many of us have neither the time nor the resources for long overseas sojourns, but all of us can resonate with the need to really “get away” from work or the daily grind or the constant demands of social media. Good stewardship of our bodies, minds and souls obliges us to get away on a regular basis (see Luke 5:16).

As Christian stewards, we aren’t just encouraged but obligated to con-sider how we approach our steward-ship of leisure time. Stewards are aware of their need to be busy doing God’s work, but often forget that down time is equally important to spiritual growth.

Leisure time, whether it’s our evenings, our weekends, or our vacation, pro-vides spiritual, physical, mental and emotional recharging. Leisure is nec-essary for human wholeness. Leisure reconnects us to the wider mysteries of our world and our God. It helps us daydream, imagine, pray. It refreshes our spirit.

Today, connectivity has become almost an obsession. People check

their emails, their messages and calls with alarming repetitiveness.Acci-dents, both pedestrian and automo-bile, happen because people can’t put down their phones.Employers ex-pect their workers to be available for evening emails. The lines between work and free time increasingly blur, as do the lines between solitude and always being present “online.” We can’t imagine putting aside screens for a two-week vacation. But we must give ourselves time to renew and re-charge, not just two weeks of the year, but each day and each week.

July offers an opportunity to re-connect with the rhythms of God and nature. We need to take time off from screens and phones, and practice giv-ing undivided attention to the things before us. When we pray, we commit time and silence. When we enjoy time with our friends and family, we practice being totally present. When we sit on the patio or at the beach, we give our-selves wholly to the wind or the waves. Be a good steward of your body, mind and soul. Don’t overschedule your time off. Listen to the quiet whisper of God encouraging you to relax.

Stewardship of Leisure Time: Refreshing Our Spirits

Leisure is necessary for human wholeness. Leisure reconnects us to the wider mysteries of our world and our God. It helps us daydream, imagine, pray. It refreshes our spirit.

ICSC@catholicstewardship.org(800) 352-3452

International Catholic Stewardship Council

www.catholicstewardship.com

Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeWeekend of July 2/3, 2016In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus inviting his disciples to be evangelizers. “The harvest is abundant,” Jesus says. But those who are willing to invite others to a deeper relation-ship with the Lord are few. Good stewards who are willing to witness their Catholic faith to others know they are “like lambs among wolves.” They are encouraged to be gentle, patient and loving, knowing they may face rejection and even fierce opposition.

The Year of Mercy invites us to be better stewards of our faith, to give positive, courageous, joyful witness to others who have turned away from their relationship with Jesus. Is there someone we should be reaching out to this week?

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeWeekend of July 9/10, 2016Today’s Gospel turns our attention to one of Jesus’ most fa-miliar stories, the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It is about living how God intended us to live: to acknowledge God’s divine love and compassion lavished upon us, and to ex-tend that love and compassion upon others without reserva-tion. We can find a lot of reasons for not stopping to help someone. We can talk ourselves out of being Good Samari-tans. Strangers are not our responsibility, or are they? Good stewards understand that God’s mercy is a gift that must be shared, and that doing the right thing, acting as Jesus would act toward others, is the only course of action for one who lives according to the demands of the Gospel. How might you be a Good Samaritan this week?

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeWeekend of July 16/17, 2016Martha and Mary are the focus of this weekend’s Gospel, which abounds with rich themes about hospitality, service, and finding the right balance between action and prayer-ful attention to the Lord. Christians who are good stewards of their faith life realize that if they are too busy to enjoy

peaceful, private time with the Lord, then something is out of balance in their spirituality. If we make time for Mass, but then carry on with our busy schedules without prayer, medi-tation and reflection, we are missing out. If we find ourselves anxious and harried by life’s routines, could it be a sign that something in our spiritual life needs some serious attention?

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeWeekend of July 23/24, 2016Today’s Gospel parable speaks to generosity. In the deep of night, a sleepy friend responds to his neighbor’s request for food for an unexpected guest. Jesus suggests that it would be unthinkable that a friend would deny a friend in need. A friend would most certainly give what is asked and more. Through this story, Jesus illustrates God’s generosity. Good stewards realize the extraordinary love and graciousness with which God showers us. We need never convince God to be generous. God is already that generous friend. His abundant love bathes us in goodness. This week, prayerfully reflect on God’s generosity and what our response should be to that generosity.

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary TimeWeekend of July 30/31, 2016In today’s Gospel, Jesus offers a warning to those who pur-sue leisure and pleasure as their goal in life without concern for the poor and less fortunate. He tells the parable of the wealthy landowner who, upon yielding an exceptionally profitable harvest one year, determines that he will live the rest of his days in relaxation; to eat, drink and be merry. God calls the miser a “fool” and lets him know that his greed and self-indulgence will not bring him the security he seeks. Good stewards acknowledge that the money and possessions entrusted to them are to be used to further the mission of Jesus Christ. This week let us reflect on our own daily consumption habits. Do we spend money on articles that make us better ambassadors of Christ? Does our per-sonal lifestyle bring “good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18)?

A STEWARDSHIP MOMENT