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5th Sunday in Luke 2007 (Epistle to Philemon) This month, Stewardship is being preached in our Churches as well as in most Denominations. It reminds us of our obligation to actively become God's arm to transmit part of our gifts, to Institutions, as well as individuals. The Gospel Lesson today related a familiar story about the rich selfish individual and the poor, starving Lazarus. The Lord never condemned riches, but He surely condemned the rich, for their selfish living and self-sufficiency. The rich man blinded to the needs of the less fortunate, never stopped to speak to the poor Lazarus, who was seated at his gate, attempting to feed himself from the crumbs, which fell off the rich man's table. But, the scene changes. The poor Lazarus, having given up the spirit is carried by the Angels into Heaven, and placed in Abraham's bosom. Not because he was poor, but because he sustained his many sufferings in life with faith and patience. We also see the rich man in the after-Life, tortured immensely by his conscience, and realizing too late, that as a wealthy individual, he should have exercised his stewardship to his fellows humans. Tortured in Hades, he sees from afar Abraham, and the poor Lazarus reposing in his bosom. With a voice full of agony, he pleads to Abraham saying: "Father Abraham, have mercy on me. Please send Lazarus, that he may dip his finger in water to cool my tongue, because I am tormented in this flame!" Abraham answers: "Son, remember that in your lifetime you received the good things, while Lazarus suffered many trials in patience. Now, he is comforted and you are in agony. And besides, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those, who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." (Luke 16:19-31) The Rich man, self sufficient in his riches, lacked the wisdom to distinguish between the possessions he needed, used and actually enjoyed, as against the accumulation of wealth, because of vanity, greed, or the compulsion to outshine others. Thus, he couldn't think in terms that he should have been a steward of God. It is a proven fact, that people who love and enjoy personally, that which they own, are far happier than those, who have much more than they could ever enjoy. Tying in with this unquestionable truth, I think that life is to be shared. Life is a partnership in its many facets. In the shortest Epistle, St. Paul wrote, was to a person he had converted, named Philemon. It seems, that one of Philemon's servants named Onesimus, had absconded with a sum of money, and fled to Rome, where he visited St. Paul in prison. Impressed by his teachings, he became one of his most faithful followers. St. Paul never asked anything ever, from anyone. But, in this case he pleaded with Philemon to receive his former servant as a brother in Christ, since he was to make restitution. He tells Philemon, "if you consider me a partner, I ask you to welcome Onesimus as you would welcome me. Confident of your obedience, I write to you knowing that you will do even more than I ask." (Philemon l7, 21) St. Paul speaks of partnership, and when you think of it, life is a partnership. Marriage is a partnership. Commerce, Industry, Management and Labor is, or ought to be a partnership. The relation of Nations should be a partnership. But, all these relationships are dependent on the Supreme Partnership, that should exist between man and God. All partnerships, involve an investment on our part. A partnership calls for the investment of ourselves. When we enter into a partnership, we are compelled to have regard for the well-being of the joint venture. If it is a business venture and some question arises from a third party, it is only proper to say: "I must consult with my partner about that." That is what must happen also in the religious life. We must have an understanding with God, our partner. If we fail to do that, then the partnership suffers, and we lose, not money, but what is of greater value, --- our spiritual wealth. A partnership not only involves ourselves as was mentioned, but it also calls for the investment of our time. Nothing is achieved in this world, without the investment of time. A marriage cannot be a true partnership if one of the partners chooses to spend his or her time elsewhere, rather than at home. Nothing dissolves business partnerships faster, than when one of the partners fails to contribute his or her share, in time and interest for the firm. So many devote time and money on the golf course or bars than to the business they had promised to give their utmost. We can also apply this to the Church, which is a partnership between our Lord Jesus Christ and its constituents. Too many partners are not taking their part, --- not giving their time to provide the power, the enlightenment, and the service to promote the Kingdom of God on this earth. We mentioned that a partnership requires an investment of ourselves, and also that it demands the use of our time and interest in the firm. As a third item, a partnership necessitates the investment of our money. Without money, no institution, no business and no family can function. Before we enter such partnerships we estimate to see if we are in a position to execute that, which we have in mind. The same applies to the Church. While it would be wrong to state that a Church is a business, nonetheless, there is no other way that She can operate. The Church as a whole is a Steward of God, because it manages the Funds contributed by the Stewards of each Church. A successful Church should not be viewed as some remark about it, that is, that the Church is always asking for money. Yet, if they think a little, they would understand that how else can a Church, the Body of Christ, survive. Perhaps, this constitutes an excuse for them not to contribute. We are the Stewards of God. As Stewards we share in the burden of all expenses. In the Old Testament we learn that there was the systematic giving to the Synagogue of 10% of the Faithfuls' income or goods, which is called tithing. There are many Denominations today practicing tithing, and that is the answer, as to why we see small congregations doing wondrous works. I wonder if we put numbers down on paper what would be our percentage be in our giving? No one can tell anyone how much he or she should give, but the essence is, that everyone should contribute. In First Corinthians Chapter 16 Verses 1 and 2 St. Paul instructs the first Christians as follows: "Now about the collection for God's people. Do what I told the Galatian Churches to do. On the first day of every week, that is on Sundays, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come, no collections will have to be made." There is something wrong with people, who find all types of excuses not to regularly contribute. The very sad part of this situation is that, which we could have had sooner becomes delayed without reason. The Churches always do get built with their facilities, in spite of some people refraining from regularly contributing. It merely postpones the schedule, which is unfortunate. And those, who abstain from regularly contributing, at some time do walk across the welcome mat, to be lessed by the Church. We must always remember, the Church never loses, because it is the Body of Christ, but surely the abstainers are the ones, who lose. + Fr George Papadeas
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