Corpus Christi Blog

As we enter into the season of Advent, where we patiently and prayerfully await the coming of the newborn king, we will look at some of the traditions and customs we use to celebrate the season. Humans are physical beings and therefore use interactions with the physical world around them to communicate spiritual realities. We use the totality of our human expression through our five senses to relate to the world around us, as well as relating to God. This is why the Catholic Church uses things like music, art, water, oil, incense, gestures, postures, and candles — because God is the author of all creation and using His creation enriches our understanding of Him and how we relate to Him. 

Today is Stewardship Renewal Sunday. Time to wrap it all up and go forth with faith, hope, and charity! The articles for the past four weeks have focused on different aspects of Praying, Serving, and Giving.

First, we considered the giving nature of God in the famous scripture verse, John 3:16:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.

As we are made in the image and likeness of God, this means we are designed to be givers too. The joy of giving increases when we give intentionally: planning ahead and making a commitment.

Ah… The Widow’s Two Coins. Last week’s Gospel reading is the story that epitomizes what I call, “the giving guilt trip”! Maybe it’s just me and how I’ve heard this story in the past, but I have always been a bit skeptical of this widow being able to part with her only money. As a single mom in my early twenties, I would complain to God that He couldn’t possibly mean I should give all my money to the church! My literal understanding of this story caused me to dismiss its potential application to me and my life. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that the Bible has various levels of interpretation: literal, moral, allegorical, and anagogical. The fancy word for this is hermeneutics – but that’s for another article.

Our Annual Stewardship Renewal process is a wonderful opportunity for us to review where we have been and where we are going. Last week, our bulletin included our annual financial report and highlights. This report is our way of providing a clear picture of the financial health of our parish. It’s been a crazy couple of years for so many of our parish families, as we have endured the pandemic and the uncertainty that came with it. As always, we are grateful for your continued generosity in giving from your blessings.