“Jesus speaks of the responsibility of good management in his parables,” writes Fr Kevin McKenna of Rochester, NY, USA, in The Priest. “In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus describes a steward who has responsibility for his master’s resources and, while waiting for him to return, begins to mistreat the servants (Lk 12:45-46).”
“A parish could start or renew its stewardship efforts using a Matthew 25 analysis,” he continues. “How well is the parish responding to Jesus’ call to care for our least brothers and sisters: to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned (Mt 25:35-36)? With these Gospel imperatives in mind, we can use the method of “See, Judge, Act,” moving from abstraction to action.”
He explains:
First, we review the concrete situation in society that needs to be changed. What are people experiencing that is perceived as injustice? Where are the Gospel injunctions of Jesus not being answered?
Second, we ask, How did the injustice develop? A judgment is formed from theology, Scripture, Church social teaching and social analysis. The Scriptures are especially important: Are we being challenged by the word of God, especially the teachings of Jesus? Pope Francis, in Fratelli Tutti, used the parable of the Good Samaritan to question our relationship to the world, especially to the poor: “Let us care for the needs of every man and woman, young and old, with the same fraternal spirit of care and closeness that marked the Good Samaritan” (No. 79).
Third, we consider what can and should be done to address the root causes of injustice. What relationships and structures that created the injustice can be eliminated, alleviated or transformed? Theological reflection or contemplation can result in pastoral action.
Pope Francis identifies this approach in Laudato Si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”), which formed his operating principles for environmental reform: “seeing” through the eyes of contemporary scientific research, “judging” by using a theological reflection for a framework, and proposing “action” for individuals, parishes, nations or the international community. Hopefully, similar analysis can lead to congregational vitality, challenging parishioners to missionary discipleship and the use of their talents and skills to respond to legitimate Gospel-centered priorities.
In order to develop the parish as a synodal community by calling forth the potential ministerial and financial gifts of its members, “parish leadership can undertake a ‘conversation in the Spirit, discerning the needs of the particular faith community, the needs that have resulted from its review of Matthew 25, and the gifts and talents to be identified from that community to undertake the needed missionary discipleship.”
Drawing on the work of the Synod on Synodality, Fr McKenna identifies an eight point “methodology of discernment and decision-making”:
1. Establishing the object of discernment and sharing information and other means that would clarify it.
2. Prayerful preparation, listening to the word of God.
3. Personal and group commitment to the common good.
4. Listening respectfully and attentively to each other’s voices.
5. Searching for a wide consensus, without hiding conflicts or searching for the lowest common denominator.
6. The leader formulating the consensus in such a way that allows participants to say whether they recognize themselves in it or not.
7. A mature acceptance of the decision by all participants.
8. A period of reception by the community that leads to further review and assessment.
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Fr Kevin McKenna, Faithful, Prudent Stewards (The Priest)
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Thank you for sharing. It is one of the most hopeful signs that Pope Francis’ (santo subito) response to the synodal promptings of the Spirit have not been lost to the Church in America.
🙏🏼😇🥰🌹