PASTORAL MESSAGE
THE CALL OF EVERY ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN
"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards (οικονόμοι) of the mysteries of God."
(I Corinthians 4:1)
"Stewardship" properly understood, then, has to do with the mystery of salvation which the Father has accomplished in
the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ. He has entrusted this mystery to the Church. Hidden before the ages, the mystery
of the holy Gospel has been disclosed fully only in Jesus Christ, and is known only to those who through faith have been
united to God in Christ Jesus (I Peter 1:10-12), that is to say the Ecclesia (Church).
This defines the Church's holy mission; appointed as the "steward" of the mystery of salvation in Christ, she has been
called to make it known to all mankind. In these terms St. Paul describes his commission as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus
Christ. For example: "I assume you have heard of the stewardship (οικονομία) of God's
grace that was given to me for you,
how the mystery was made known to me by revelation." (Ephesians 3:2). "To me this grace was given: to make all men see
what is the plan (οικονομία) of the mystery hidden for ages in God Who created
all things; that through the Ecclesia
the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places." (Εphesians 3:8)
"Of His Church I have become a servant (διακόνος)
according to the dispensation (οικονομία) which was given to me for
you to accomplish in you the word of God, the mystery hidden from the ages and for generations, but now made manifest to
His saints, by whom God desired to make known among the nations what is the wealth of the glory of this mystery which is
Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:25-27)
To the laity (Orthodox Christian faithful), the holy Apostle Peter writes: "As each has received a gift, employ it for one
another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." (I Peter 4:1O) And again, to the laity St. Ignatius writes: "Toil together one
with another, struggle together, as God's stewards and assessors and ministers (διάκονοι)."
THE SPIRITUALITY OF FINANCIAL GIVING
This provides the broadest context for the spirituality of financial giving; it provides the understanding that should inform
our attitude to money, and it explains how we can use it so as to help us in the spiritual discipline of cultivating total devotion
to God, rather than attachment to the things of the world. St. Peter of Damascus writes this:
"We ought all of us always to give thanks to God for both the universal and the particular gifts of soul and body that He
bestows on us…These include wealth, so that one can perform acts of charity; poverty, so that one can endure it with
patience and gratitude; health so that one can assist those in need and undertake work worthy of God…"
Accordingly, the principle characteristic of the Orthodox Christian steward is that of gratitude. Detached from the world
and attached to God, he gives thanks to God if he is rich, for his wealth enables him to perform deeds of philanthropy:
"The wealthy should give thanks, for through God's providence they are able to perform acts of charity and so are saved
in this age and in the age to come. For without the poor they cannot save their souls or flee the temptations of wealth.
Our goal should be poverty of spirit. Through poverty with respect to desire for the material things of the world, the coffers
of our heart may be opened to receive the riches of God's spiritual blessings. Poverty of spirit must be total."
This is the warning of Saint Diadochos of Photiki:
"The Lord will demand from us an account of our help to the needy according to what we have and not according to
what we have not."
The spiritual principle which St. Diadochos uncovers here is the depth of our spiritual pride and
the strength of our attachment to the world. We must be careful lest we begin to perform good deeds and acts of service
NOT for the glory of God, but for our own self-aggrandizement.
Saint Peter of Damascus writes:
"The persons to whom it is granted to keep the commandments gives not only his possessions but even his very life for
his neighbor. This is perfect mercy; for just as Christ endured death on our behalf, giving to all an example and a model,
so we should die for one another, and not only for our friends, but for our enemies as well, should the occasion call for it."
Our use of money says a great deal about who our real god is since money is directly connected to possessing the things
of the world. Accordingly, our attitude towards money can become that which condemns us, or it can be transformed into a
loving expression of gratitude to God for His many blessings.
With love in Christ,
+Fr. George
ECCLESIASTICAL CALENDAR
Whose name day is October 26th
We would like to express our warmest regards and best wishes
to His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America who celebrates
his name day on October 26th. If you wish, you may send His Eminence greetings at:
Whose name day is
October 23rd
We would like to express our warmest regards and best wishes
to His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos on the occasion of his name day.
If you wish to send His Eminence greetings please do so at:
