Prologue:

    This is the seventh in a series of articles that will be appearing in the Sunday bulletin over the next several weeks. These articles are designed to help us understand what stewardship is all about and guide us in supporting our parish through prayer, service, and sharing.

Chapter Seven: Juicy Fruit Stewardship

    Fr. Frank Grinko, OFMCap, once gave a homily on stewardship to the students of Holy Family Elementary School. At each school mass he celebrated, Fr. Frank selected one class to participate in a question and answer type of homily. A third grade class of eighteen students had been chosen to participate in the homily.  Each student in the class was given a five piece pack of Juicy Fruit gum.

    Fr. Frank explained that he had given the gum to them, it was theirs.  They did not do anything to earn it.  He gave it to them simply because he loved them and he wanted them to have it.

    Fr. Frank then turned the homily into a little math lesson.  “How many pieces are in each pack?” he asked.  “Five,” they responded.  “What percentage of each pack is one stick?” he asked.  “Twenty percent! Twenty percent!”  the students responded.

    “Very good!” Fr. Frank said.  “Now fold one piece and tear it in half.  What percentage of the whole pack is one-half of one piece?”  “Ten Percent,” yelled out several students. “Very good, I’m impressed!” said Fr. Frank.  “Now I have only one thing that I’m going to ask of you.  I want you to give one-half of one stick, or ten percent of the pack of gum that I have given you, to someone else whom you do not know.  It can’t be a friend, it can’t be a relative.  It has to be somebody you don’t know very well, or maybe, don’t like very much. Will you do that?” Some said, “Yes,” others nodded.

    Fr. Frank then went on to explain what stewardship was all about.  Everything we have, God has given us… for free.  But in His generosity, God also wants us to be generous to others.  It is very pleasing to Him that we would imitate Him in His generosity.  Not only does He enjoy giving to us, He gets extra enjoyment out of seeing us give to others.

    “Okay,” he said.  “Is there anyone who would like to give the other half of that one piece to somebody who would want it?  I have given you all five pieces of gum free – you didn’t have to do anything to earn it – and I’m only asking you to give away half of one stick.  But is there anyone here willing to give more than his or her ten percent?  One little girl raised her hand.  The rest were quiet.

(Taken from “Juicy Fruit Stewardship” by Mark Roberti)

    We are invited to prayerfully reflect on our Stewardship as an expression of our discipleship. 1 Peter 4: 10 says “As each one has received a gift, use it to serve another as good stewards of God’s varied graces.”  Consider sharing your gifts of prayer, service, and sharing with our St. Matthew community.   (To be continued next week….)  [Top]