WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT GIVING?

Jesus tells us, “Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, and inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can reach nor moth destroy. For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be…Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be required of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12: 33-34, 48)

THE SPIRITUALITY OF GIVING

• “Identity: We are God’s children…God created man in his image…The Catechism states: ‘man is created by God and for God, and God never ceases to draw man to himself.’

• Trust: If we are God’s children…destine to return to God, we can trust that God will provide for all our needs. We need not worry about anything. Conversely, we also need to be trustworthy and honest in everything we do and entrusted to us. We need to be worthy of God’s trust…

• Gratitude: God is the source of everything we are and have. We will not exist without Him. We need, therefore, to be grateful…Jesus is our model of gratitude. He gave thanks always. Father Andrew suggests making a “thank-God” list… [to] think more of what we have and not what we do not have.

• Love: God loves us first. He created us in His image…when we sinned, He sent us his only Son to redeem us, and the Holy Spirit to sanctify us so that we can return to Him and see Him face to face in heaven…Now we need to return His love by loving Him back… [which] requires that we give. We express our love by giving of our time, talent and treasure.”

WHY SHOULD I GIVE?

We have the same privilege of supporting Jesus since He lives in the Catholic Church. Our parish continues the work of Jesus and we give because of our faith in Him and our desire to serve Him. The best motivation for our sacrificial giving to St. Michael the Archangel Parish can only be gratitude for the blessings God has bestowed on us, and a strong desire to see the gospel spread to all people.

Such giving, far from impoverishing the giver, actually brings the blessings of peace and joy as we put God first in our use of material wealth.

HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?

The Bible suggests a tithe: the first ten percent of every dollar to be given to God. In the Archdiocese of Mobile, the modern tithe is understood as 5% to the parish, and 5% to other charities. We have untapped potential at St. Michael and are only scratching the surface of what we could do for the work of the Church with a full commitment to the Biblical practice of stewardship on the part of every parishioner.

The 5% recommended tithe should serve as a guide in planning your giving. It is up to each person to determine what to give, as St. Paul explained to the Corinthians: “Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9: 7-8)

GIVING AS INDIVIDUALS

On an individual basis, we might want to consider some prayerful reflection and introspection, asking the Holy Spirit to open the ears of our hearts to the Truth and God’s will for us, as we ponder questions such as the following:

• Do I yearn to have wealth, status or approbation more than I yearn to love God with all my heart, soul and being?
• Am I attached to my wealth, status, and the opinions of others, or can I be indifferent to them—indifferent in the sense that if they bring me closer to God, they are good for the time being, but if they draw me away from Him, I need to get rid of them?
• We naturally dwell on what we desire—what do I dwell on—my desire for God and conformity with His will, or something else?
• Have my possessions made me a “slave” due to my inordinate concern about them and their potential loss, which taints my judgment?
• How do I tangibly show my love for God?
• At my death, when God asks me to account for how I handled all the gifts He gave me, what kind of response will I be able to give Him?
• How do I use my gifts from God to help those less fortunate than I?
• Do I trust in God’s providence for me—that He knows what is best for me?
• What am I afraid of? Our Lord tells us not to be afraid, but to trust in Him, and to focus on Him and on the inexhaustible treasure of heaven—so why am I anxious about the trappings of this short life on earth?
• Can I, as St. Ignatius of Loyola prayed, ask God to teach me to “give and not to count the cost?”
• Can I find a way to increase my giving incrementally over a few years to get to a level that I know in my heart is what I should do?

It really is true—God will NOT be outdone in generosity—we just need to take the first step and see for ourselves. Ask anyone who already is tithing and they will tell you all about it.