Archive for February, 2011

“The art of stewardship is in the activity of distribution. Whatever we know of the gospel, whatever we enjoy of God’s grace, whatever ministry we have received, it is ours in trust for others, given to me for you.”

Douglas Webster of the Church Missionary Society, London, in “The Primary Stewardship” from The Expository Times 1960-61, 72:276.

“It is God’s will that we receive three things from him as gifts as we seek.

The first is that we seek willingly and diligently without sloth, as that may be with his grace, joyfully and happily, without unreasonable depression and useless sorrow.

The second is that we wait for him steadfastly, out of love for him, without grumbling and contending against him…

The third is that we have great trust in him, out of complete and true faith, for it is his will that we know that he will appear, suddenly and blessedly, to all his lovers.”

Julian of Norwich (c.1342-1416) English anchoress and author in Julian of Norwich (New York: Paulist Press, 1980) 196.

“Letting go of all that is one’s own, and of the things that are not God, is a sign that one prefers God.”

Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988), Swiss Theologian in he Glory of the Lord (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1991) 54.

“In many cases there are people who have known dire economic straits, yet their trust has enabled them to step outside their grim conditions and to find joy in life, so they run against the grain. The fact that they downscale, suggests that though they are burdened by economic problems, they are not overcome by them. They are more forgiving, more grateful and more likely to be unprejudiced, as well as twice as likely to be involved in outreach to neighbors, as persons at the lower end of the spiritual commitment scale. In other studies we have done, such as financial giving, we found that the poor give a larger proportion of their income to charity than the rich. Being surrounded by misery, they see opportunities to help on every side. The rich, especially now, have a tendency to cordon themselves off and therefore don’t see much of the grimness of life.”

George Gallup, Jr. in The Saints Among Us as quoted in an interview in America (October 26, 1996) 20.

“To give, not from my wealth but from my want, as the widow of Jerusalem who donated her last coin, that is the great challenge of the Gospel. When I look critically at my life, I find that my generosity always occurs in the context of great wealth. I give some of my money, some of my time, some of my energy, and some of my thoughts to God and others, but enough money, time, energy and thoughts always remain to maintain my own security. Thus I never really give God a chance to show me his boundless love.”

Henri Nouwen (1932-1996) in Road to Daybreak (New York: Doubleday, 1988) 71-72.

“Unless you make what is right left, what is left right, what is above into what is below, and what is behind into what is in front, you will not learn to know the Kingdom.”

Acts of Peter is one of the earliest writings from the Apocryphal Acts of the Apostles. From this work we learn many things, such as how Peter was martyred. Quoted in The Apocryphal Acts of Peter edited by Jan Bremmer, 120, and in Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, 131.

“Marcella had an enviable life as the daughter of a prominent Roman family who married a wealthy man. But less than a year after her wedding, her husband died. She was given the chance to continue living in wealth when she was proposed to by the wealthy consul Cerealis. She chose instead to convert her mansion into one of the earliest communities of women, where she and other noblewomen used their riches to help the poor. Marcella said she preferred to “store her money in the stomachs of the needy than hide it in a purse.” In 410, when the Goths invaded Rome, they broke into Marcella’s home. When they demanded money, she calmly responded that she had no riches because she had given all to the poor. Though she was an elderly woman, they beat and tortured her mercilessly. Her attackers were eventually shamed by her piety and she was released, but she died within a short time.

Marcella of Rome wrote, “By heaven’s grace, captivity has found me a poor woman, not made me one. Now I shall go in want of daily bread, but I shall not feel hunger since I am full of Christ.”

Marcella of Rome (c. 325-410) in Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, 124-125.

“I would like the angels of Heaven to be among us.
I would like an abundance of peace.
I would like full vessels of charity.
I would like rich treasures of mercy.
I would like cheerfulness to preside over all.
I would like Jesus to be present.”

Brigid of Ireland (c. 450-525) is believed to have been the daughter of a pagan Scottish king and a Christian Pictish slave known for her generous spirit and compassionate heart for the poor. She founded the double monastery in Kildare for monks and nuns where the perpetual fire burns as a symbol of hospitality, constant devotion to God and the poor. Excerpt recounted in Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, 129-130.