Time, Talent and Treasure

Catechist Know-how April 2012

By Mary Lou Rosien

Each year at this time, I reevaluate my spiritual progress during Lent and anxiously await the Celebration of Easter. This year has been an unusual journey as I took on the job of RCIA coordinator at my church. Lent became even more meaningful to me as I watched our Catechumens and Candidates prepare for full initiation into the Church, but it was also difficult to focus on my own Lenten sacrifices as this is my ‘busy’ time of year.

As I approach Easter I am overwhelmed by the privilege it has been to be a part of someone else’s journey to Christ. I have been doubly blessed as my own brother-in-law will be baptized at the Easter Vigil and he asked me to be his god-mother. This experience has solidified my own commitment to my faith and helped me think about how my time, talent and treasure are spent.

Time: It is so easy to get caught up in life’s daily struggles and tasks. Making time for Christ, for prayer, for spiritual reading and exercises often takes a back seat. I challenge my students this year to look at where they spend their time and offer some of it back to the Lord.

Encourage students to make appointments with the Lord. Actually put on the calendar things like prayer time, going to Mass, retreats or adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Have students keep a journal of what they do during the day and see how they actually spend their time. Can some of the time spent texting, watching television or catching up on social networking be used in prayer?

Talent: All of our talents are gifts from the Lord meant to be used to help each other and to glorify God. The premise of human dignity is that we are all unique, special and have something to offer others.

Have students make a list of what their talents are and how they use them.
Discuss how they can use those talents to benefit the Body of Christ.

Treasure: Everything we have, every dollar we make comes from the generosity of the Lord. Reevaluating how we spend our money can help us to see places we could give more generously to the Lord. If students do not have financial funds, they can use their time to help others instead.

Discuss the Biblical teaching of tithing (giving 10% of all you own to God).
Help students learn how to budget their money where appropriate.
Study the lives of the Saints and notice that there were NO Saints who held tightly to their wealth. The lesson is that those who give to God are pleasing to Him.

As the saying goes, “Where your time, talent and treasure are, that is where your heart is.” Are we encouraging our students and ourselves to give our hearts more fully to the Lord? May God bless you abundantly this Holy Week and Easter Season.

Mary Lou Rosien writes from outside Rochester, NY. She is the author of Managing Stress with the Help of Your Catholic Faith (OSV) and, Catholic Family Boot Camp (Bezalel Books). Check out her website, or contact her at www.catholicfamilybootcamp.com.

Time, Talent and Treasure

Catechist Know-how April 2012

By Mary Lou Rosien

Encourage students to make appointments with the Lord. Actually put on the calendar things like prayer time, going to Mass, retreats or adoration in front of the Blessed Sacrament.
Have students keep a journal of what they do during the day and see how they actually spend their time. Can some of the time spent texting, watching television or catching up on social networking be used in prayer?

Have students make a list of what their talents are and how they use them.
Discuss how they can use those talents to benefit the Body of Christ.

Discuss the Biblical teaching of tithing (giving 10% of all you own to God).
Help students learn how to budget their money where appropriate.
Study the lives of the Saints and notice that there were NO Saints who held tightly to their wealth. The lesson is that those who give to God are pleasing to Him.