A Spirit of Responsible Gratitude

Today at the 5pm Mass, as we launch the What Would You Do student-giving campaign, I wanted to reflect briefly on the motivation behind this new initiative. On its surface, the effort is a fundraiser with a modest goal of $4000.  All the monies raised will go to support student programs, events and Mass.  The funds will go a long way to helping sustain our commitment to providing an excellent Catholic education, formative spiritual experiences and a welcoming community at SMU.

But ultimately the What Would You Do campaign is about something much bigger than raising a few thousand dollars.  What Would You Do is the first action we’re taking toward cultivating in our community a spirit of Responsible Gratitude.  Responsibility and gratitude are at the heart of Catholic stewardship. It is about more than giving a donation or taking care of a building.  Catholic stewardship is about receiving God’s gifts with grateful hearts and taking care of them responsibly, hence Responsible Gratitude.  Responsible gratitude always leads to sharing what we have been given lovingly and justly with others. 

The gifts of God that we are called to be stewards of include far more than our material possessions. These gifts include:

• Your faith, hope, love, and joy
• Your family love and relationships with others
• Your intelligence, talents, and skills
• Your imagination, compassion, and vision
• Creation in all its splendor

The Catholic Bishops of the United States characterize stewardship as an “invitation to help change the world”. They put the challenges and rewards of a spirit of Responsible Gratitude this way:

It is an incredible challenge to live in imitation of the life of Christ. We all face obstacles, opportunities, and challenges, living in a fast-paced environment with many responsibilities. Our spiritual hunger does not always get a chance to be nourished through prayer and action.

However, a clear sense of purpose—nourished by the Eucharist and our rich Catholic tradition—opens the door for us to actively commit to a life of gratitude and responsibility; to thank God for his endless gifts, and then to decide what we can do to help the world.

The rewards of Catholic stewardship include:

• Making a difference in other’s lives
• Becoming an active member of a fulfilling Catholic community
• Discovering talents inside you, waiting to be used
• Letting go of your worries and setting realistic goals in your life
• Experiencing the amazing increase in God's presence that comes with a partnership with the Lord

So today as you discern your response to What Would You Do, consider the invitation to support SMU Catholic as a first step toward answering the greater call to live with a generous spirit of Responsible Gratitude.