EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP - RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS

How Much Is Enough?

I’ve got some great news for some of you: Jesus Christ doesn’t care what name you bear. He doesn’t care where you were born, and he doesn’t care what your family tree looks like. He doesn’t care where you grew up or where you went to school.

I’ve also got some bad news for some of you: See above.

It’s so easy to take our salvation for granted. The mercy of God makes it so. Look at John the Baptist — he was pouring water on everybody who wanted it. Everybody but one group: those who expected it. Those who thought it was a given because of who they were, because of what they were. Those who had no intention of doing the work of repentance.

Sometimes, because God is so faithful, we make the mistake of forgetting that He is also just.

I am baptized, we think. I made my First Communion, and I was Confirmed. That’s enough.

I went to Catholic school. I know all the Ten Commandments and I can tell you anything you want to know about the Popes. That’s enough.

I’m on parish council. I put money in the basket, and I volunteer. That’s enough.

None of it is enough. It would never be enough. And before we look upon the Pharisees and Sadducees with too much judgment, we need to remember: the work of repentance is ongoing. It is a process that we must commit to within ourselves, continuously.

God is the missing element to this equation. He is the one who raises children to Abraham from the stones. If we rely only on our own abilities, our own merits, our own offerings, it will never be enough.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS

(PRACTICING) CATHOLIC - RECOGNIZE GOD IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS

By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman

The Way

A friend of mine who had family members belonging to several different religions once told me that there were as many different routes to Heaven as there were to the grocery store.

This was an analogy her family had used to remember that they all sought the same thing — God — even though they were going about the search in different ways.

I’ve thought a lot about her words in the years since she shared them with me. It’s not an untrue analogy — there are a lot of different routes to the grocery store. An infinite number, in fact. There is actually no “right” way to get to the grocery store, because it all depends on where you’re starting from and what other errands you have along the way.

And there are a lot of different routes to Heaven — likewise, an infinite number. It all depends on where you’re starting from. It all depends on what you have to do along the way.

There it is: the part that matters. The way.

Whether we’re talking about Heaven or the grocery store as our destination, all routes are not created equal. Some take too long. Some are impassable. Some are hard to navigate. Some are just plain made-up — the glitch of a GPS, the promise of a false prophet. And inevitably, if you take a less-than-ideal route, you will find yourself flagging down a pedestrian, asking, “I’m lost. Which way do I go?”

See, you can meander all you want. But in the end, you have to find The Way. And there’s only one. Don’t worry, though.

You’ll know him when you see him.

 Have you made your will? If not, the State of NH has made one for you. It just may not distribute your assets the way you would like. For starters your property may be tied up in probate for well over a year and then distributed to your spouse and children without any consideration about how they might manage the funds. We invite you to attend “With Grace We Life and Leave – A Life Planning Workshop” to learn how you can ensure your estate is managed after you are no longer here.

 Are you worried that it’s too costly and complex to use an attorney to write your will or trust? Making a will or trust is not as expensive as you think. In fact, there are ways you can create a simple will for no charge at all! However, not having a will or trust may cost your family a great deal. Please join us at our upcoming workshop: “With Grace We Life and Leave – A Life Planning Workshop” to learn what information you need to gather how to make the process more effective for you!

 What happens if you are incapacitated and cannot communicate the type of medical care you wish? Your family and medical specialists must make their best guess with what your wish may be. This can cause undue stress to family members, and your wants or needs may not be met in the way you would like. Preparing a health care directive that states what quality of life you consider appropriate can be your answer. Find out how to share your wishes with your family, doctors, and others close to you by attending “With Grace We Life and Leave – A Life Planning Workshop.”