The Bishop Writes

(From the Feb. 5, 1998 edition of the Inland Register)

Periodically we come across a remarkable story of generosity.

A year or so ago, there was the story in our national media of an elderly cleaning lady who had saved approximately $70,000 in her lifetime. She donated the entire amount to a special educational fund for the poor. Cleaning ladies do not make a lot of money. Yet using her gift of time and work over the years, she reached out to those she could assist to help make their lives better.

That story echoes the observation of Jesus as he watched the widow place her two copper coins as an offering in the temple, "I assure you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest" (Luke 21:1).

Jesus also invited people to be generous. A young man asked Jesus, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus told him to keep the commandments. The man then asked what more he should do. Jesus told him to go sell what he had, give the proceeds to the poor, "Then come, follow me." The young man sadly turned away (Luke 18:18).

Recently, several businessmen in the eastern part of our country who were making salaries in the high six figures came together and decided what would be a good, modest amount to support themselves and their families. The rest they put into a common pool which funds were to be used for projects helping the poor. This, too, is a good example of generous sharing and reaching out in a creative way.

Through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist, we have become full members of the Church. That full membership does not consist in being a spectator, but a participant. The Church has a tremendous treasure in the gifts of her members. Those gifts and the generous sharing of them are part of our spiritual heritage that bonds all of us together in the Body of Christ. St. Paul speaks with great insight about how those gifts are interconnected and how the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

We do Church. Part of that doing Church is to support the mission of the Church. That support takes funds. As baptized members, we should be committed to the work to the Church. This commitment and generosity on our part demand stewardship grounded on a solid spirituality. This spirituality involves constant discernment of what the Lord is calling us to do. The Church holds up before us the Scriptural guideline of tithing and sacrificial giving.

Clearly, the Holy Spirit is at work in the Church. At the present moment, we have at least eight different fund-raising efforts in process or soon will be in the general area of Spokane. Then there is the Annual Catholic Appeal, the Christmas collection for Catholic Charities, and the several other appeals which are regularly taken up during the year. Many people are generous.

Along with the Christmas collection, for example, there is great generosity which takes place through the many individual projects in the parishes for the needy. Christmas baskets, turkeys, giving trees, and collections of food are just some of the many ways parishioners are showing concern and outreach.

Sometimes I hear the complaint that we ask the faithful too frequently. On top of my desk at the Catholic Pastoral Center, I have a stack of about 20 envelopes I have received, all requesting a personal donation. On the average of at least once a week, a brother bishop somewhere in the world requests a donation. That stack of envelopes and my checkbook are a good source for examining my conscience about my own personal stewardship.

What does Jesus expect of me? Oftentimes, the answer seems to be very clear. I should feel honored in being invited to support the works of the Church, rather than resentful that I am being asked too much. An attitude of generosity makes a big difference in how we perceive these requests.

Finally, I encourage everyone to share in the spirit of generosity as together we serve the Lord and one another. One of our pastors in the diocese said not so long ago, "Never has so much been done by so few with so little." We are many in our Catholic family, and all of us are invited and called to participate. May our response be generous as we remind ourselves of how our good and gracious God has so richly blessed us.

May God bless you and give you peace.

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