Do we shout, “Long live Christ the King!” Or do we shout, “I do not want this man as my king!” The Christian claim is that it is only Christ who is able to bring the peace that we so desperately long for in our lives, in our families, in our communities, in our country, and in our world.
Stewardship Renewal #4 – Detachment
Jesus is indeed describing an event which will bring the world to an end…but the Earth will keep spinning. Has our old world come to an end, or are we still attached to it?
Stewardship Renewal #3 – Resist
Once every three years we are given an excerpt from the story of the Maccabean revolt: the martyrdom of a mother and her seven sons. Their witness could not be more important for our times!
Stewardship Renewal #2 – Surrender
Zacchaeus provides an excellent pattern for an authentic response to the rescue given to us in Christ. It is surrender. Turning over our entire “house” to him.
Stewardship Renewal #1 – How do you see?
As we begin our annual renewal of the Stewardship Way of Life, the first question we have to consider is: How do you see? How do you see the world around you, your life, the meaning of it all?
“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith?”
When Jesus returns he isn’t going to be looking for “good people.” “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith? Will he find people who have entrusted their entire life, the totality of their life, everything and every part of their life to him?
“Your faith has saved you.”
Faith isn’t an imposition on our real life. It is the only way to live a life where the newness we seek can be given.
“Increase our faith!”
Why is an increase of faith so important? I believe in God. I am a Catholic. Why is the need for more faith so important?
The Urgency of the Decision
There is a great urgency in Christ’s words. And he isn’t trying to shame us or guilt us. But he is trying to provoke a real and urgent response.
Returning Home
Yeah, maybe we’re not off in some distant land committing awful sins. Yeah, maybe we are just doing what everyone else in our community is doing. But maybe we are in just as bad a spot anyway.
The Beggar 