This is our theme for Stewardship this year: FIAT, “Let it be done to me.” As God continues to establish His Kingdom, as we renew our commitment to Evangelizing, to being His Disciples, to being good Stewards—it all begins with FIAT: letting it happen. The Kingdom of God arrives in and through you. Render to God what belongs to God, turn yourself over to Him, and He will accomplish the rest.
Author: Fr. Michael Brungardt
Fr. Michael Brungardt (S.T.B, M.Div.) is a priest of the Diocese of Wichita and the parochial vicar at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Derby, Kansas.
Philippians (4): You Can Do What?
“No matter what the circumstances in my life are, I have found the hidden secret to being content, to being free from anxiety and worry: I have the strength to endure anything because God gives me the strength, I depend on Him, He does not let me down.”
Philippians (3): Don’t Worry!
No anxiety? Paul is living as a citizen of the Gospel, Paul has put on the mind of the Messiah, and, because of that, Paul can see clearly, see reality in a completely new and positive way. Reality, life, life after Jesus’ incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension—reality is positive.
Philippians (2): The Mind of the Messiah
Paul never talked about lobbying the Roman senate to get better treatment for the Christians. Paul didn’t incite protests and riots in order to change the atrocities going on in the world. What did Paul say? “Have the mind of the Messiah.”
Philippians (1): Behaving as Citizens in a Secular Society
Paul is saying, “Yes, you live in a broken and backwards world. Yes, it is frustrating. And yes, there doesn’t seem to be much hope that things are going to get better. But, behave as citizens of the gospel. Behave as servants of Jesus Christ, the true Lord!”
“Forgive me just like I forgive others”
What happens when we don’t forgive? Resentment. And the torture we are handed over to is of our own making.
The Ministry of Reconciliation
Reconciliation: How is this not just some more good advice that we could have gotten from any decent psychologist? Jesus isn’t in the business of giving good advice for the sake of good advice. This is good news! Why?
FAITH (4): It Shows When You Pick Up a Cross
It is through a life lived in faith and allegiance to the King that the Kingdom grows. Through our witness, countless people can be inspired to live their lives in service to this King. It is people living their baptism, people living with Christ as their King. It is people who take up their cross daily and follow him.
FAITH (3): “Those be fightin’ words!”
Peter is confessing his allegiance to, his faith in Jesus Christ. Peter has come to realize that Jesus is the true king and emperor of the world, God’s anointed king who has come to overthrow the kingdoms of this world. And that is revolutionary in nature.
FAITH (2): “Something amazing! I guess.”
Faith is what happens when you encounter an exceptional presence, and you recognize this Presence as containing the “answer” you’ve been looking for, and you adhere to this Presence (beg for mercy, for help).
