Time, Talent and Treasure

Today we observe World Mission Sunday with the Theme chosen by Pope Leo XIV “One in Christ, United in Mission”

I have attended a catholic school. Where when we were young, the month of October was Mission Sunday and each one of us in the class was given a small brown envelope to be handed back at specific date in observance of this. I would gladly put in some coins from my daily allowance in addition to what my parents would give. By the time we hand this over, I feel happy knowing that I have done and gave something to those who need assistance and support. That is my first life experience of giving outside of the Church collection – and how I feel rich doing so.

I have personally seen and experienced that the more we give, the more it seems I have more to give out. I know some can relate that it appears that those who give generously are the ones who appear to have more to share. Being a man for others is being able to share our time, talents, and treasure. In today’s world, where everything is measured in material wealth- this can be a challenge. The advent of Technology where it is intended to make things easier for us in many things – makes sharing our time even more difficult. In our workplace – do we share our skills and knowledge to others not to impress, but to guide and impart things that we know, and our co-workers will learn from.

Through the years, I have realized that giving back is not just measured in financial and monetary values. Our giving and sharing of ourselves and what we have, goes beyond the financial. Giving can be made by sharing our time and talents to others, to our spouse and Children and to the community we are in – and in Church.

Sharing in the context of Faith should be Cheerful, Heart Centered, Sacrificial and compassionate. In the New Testament I quote “Each Person should give as much as he has decided in his heart, not with reluctance or under compulsion, For God loves a cheerful giver ‘2 Cor 9:7 and our Lord promised “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. The measure that you use for others will be used to measure you” Lk 6:38

Giving and sharing is following the biblical truth of faith and trust to the One who provides, to the One whom everything that we have comes from.

How do we share what we have? Do we give some of it away or do we keep it to ourselves?

May we all be blessing to our Family, Church community, and the people around us.

Alex Mino – Parish Pastoral Council Chair