Catechesis is ‘stirring the flame’ God has placed in our hearts

Published: October 9, 2004

By Sister Mary Glynn, SJC

One day while I was in Ireland this past summer I visited my brother and his family. His daughter, Anna, who is very creative, was working with scraps of material and doing very beautiful work. After I admired her handiwork, I remarked how wonderful it is to have such gifts and that I often feel that I am not the least bit creative.

Anna looked at me and said, “Auntie Mary, using your gifts is all about your relationship with God who is the giver of all gifts and invites us to use them. Using my gifts is an act of worship. Not using them is being selfish and ungrateful.” I must admit that I went away with much food for thought. I am reminded of my niece’s remarks when I reflect on our theme, as catechists, for this year, “Stewards of God’s Gifts.”

In the Scriptures, a steward is a person to whom another’s estate and possessions are entrusted not only to keep them safe, but also to help them grow and flourish. To be a steward, then, we must be open to receiving the gift, be willing to acknowledge it as a gift and be committed to using it to enable growth.

Stewardship is an all encompassing, multifaceted commitment. Stewardship believes that we receive God’s gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others and return them with increase to the Lord. (U.S. Bishops’ letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response)

While all members of the Catholic Church are responsible for sharing their faith with others, there are those among us who have accepted a specially designated role as a teacher or catechist. God created us to live and grow in love. By being stewards of God’s gifts, we take an active part in bringing this vision of life into being. Catechesis is about stirring to flame the fire of faith in the hearts of all.

When we take the initiative to share the riches of the Gospel with others, we are acting as good stewards of God’s gifts. As part of the Church’s formal teaching ministry, we, as catechists, play an important role in sharing the gift of faith with the world. When we catechize, either formally in class, or informally in comments and conversations at home or at work, the message of salvation is at the heart of our stewardship.

It is the Holy Spirit that inspires each of us to respond to the call of stewardship. We weren’t just created by God, but we were created for God. We can never return to God anything that God hasn’t given us first and given in abundance. Stewardship allows me to look for opportunities for giving because God has first given to me.

The central metaphor of the Eucharist is an exchange of gifts: God’s earth gives wheat and grapes to us, we return them improved as bread and wine, and then receive them back in turn infinitely bettered as God Incarnate. As catechists perhaps a focus for us might be: “How can the God-within-me meet the God-within-you?”

When we open ourselves to recognizing God’s gifts to us and allow him to work through us for the good of others, great things can happen. Without prayer we cannot be stewards. Having a relationship with God is necessary before one can take the leap of faith that is required of the steward. May we all continue to be faithful stewards of God’s gifts, especially the gift of faith.

Sister Mary Glynn, SJC, is the director for the diocese’s Office of Religious Education and Christian Initiation. This article was originally published in Arkansas Catholic Oct. 9, 2004. Copyright Diocese of Little Rock. All rights reserved. This article may be copied or redistributed with acknowledgement and permission of the publisher.