During this time of Stewardship renewal in our parish, we spend these weeks thanking God for His many gifts and the joy that accompanies the life of every person who strives to live life as a disciple. Stewardship is not just about donating something —it is about how we live each day. It is the daily decision to follow Jesus as disciples who recognize that everything we have is a gift from God. The hours in our day, the energy we possess, the relationships we enjoy—none of them are ours by right. They are entrusted to us for God’s purposes.
I think of Mary, a parishioner who quietly lives this reality. She begins each day in prayer before her crucifix, offering God her time: “Lord, my day is Yours. Show me how to serve You today.” She visits her elderly neighbor twice a week to bring company and encouragement (Time). She bakes for parish events and has helped sew and repair some of our liturgical vestments (Talent). She also tithes faithfully from her modest income (Treasure). Mary doesn’t do these things to be recognized. She does them because she understands that her life belongs to God and she wants to return it to Him in love.
Our Catholic faith reminds us that time is the first gift God gives us after the gift of life itself. Each moment is a treasure that cannot be reclaimed once it passes. The Catechism calls us “...collaborators with God” (CCC 307), and that collaboration happens in the here and now, in the daily choices we make with the time we are given.
Jesus gives us the perfect example. St. Paul writes, “Though He was in the form of God… He emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:6-7). Jesus gave His time to teach, to heal, to listen, to pray—and ultimately to lay down His life for us.
Good stewardship of time means balancing our hours in a way that reflects God’s priorities: time for Him in prayer and worship, time for our families, time for work, and time to serve the community and Church. It also includes rest, because even Jesus withdrew to pray and renew His strength.
This week, take a quiet moment and ask: Am I giving God my best time, or only what’s left over? Even small, intentional moments—like a daily Rosary, a visit to the sick, or simply listening to someone in need—are powerful ways to live stewardship of time.
God Bless,
