This past week, we observed three Rogation Days, days that historically have been intended to give thanks for God’s good creation and to pray for abundant crops, especially in more agrarian societies. The color for Rogation Days is traditionally violet: a color of penitence. In ancient cultures, there was a sense that penitence and fasting were required to avert God’s wrath. Even if we don’t ascribe to this Deuteronomic theology (namely that sin causes God’s anger to be unleashed upon us as punishment), the color violet seems quite appropriate to Rogation Days. In a more technological, modern age, we have laid waste in many ways to God’s glorious creation, and that seems to demand a spirit of repentance.
At Low Mass on Wednesday, one of the Rogation Days, I was struck by the readings and how vividly they remind us that everything—our lives, all of creation, our wealth—are gifts from God. This is at striking odds with our contemporary mindset. We think of my life, my money, my things, but this is a lie. The first reading from Job amounted to a great rhetorical question from God: where were you when I created everything? In other words, who do you think you are to irresponsibly use my creation for nefarious purposes or to lazily neglect it?
The second reading, which was from the First Letter to Timothy, is incisive and short enough to quote in full. You will recognize some of the words from the liturgy for the burial of the dead in the Book of Common Prayer.
We brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it, but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. As for those who in the present age are rich, command them not to be haughty or to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches but rather on God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life that really is life (1 Timothy 6:7-10, 17-19).
Isn’t that last line amazing? This should be the summit of all Christian life: to seek “the life that really is life.”
And the final reading from the Gospel according to St. Luke was the parable of the rich fool (12:13-21). If you recall, the “rich fool” is the one whose land produces an abundant harvest. So, the man has a solipsistic dialogue with himself (reflecting his selfishness) and decides to hoard his wealth for later in life, so that he can lead a cushy, safe existence. But that very night, God demands his life. Of what use was all the hoarding? To what good end was the wealth used?
This latter parable caused me to reflect on the way the Church often views money. We adopt a worldly view. We obsess about endowment draw rates that are “healthy” at around 4% per year, and we will adhere to this at all cost, which in many places results in slashed budgets, cutting the very ministries that give God’s people a foretaste of “the life that really is life.” I’m thankful that this prevailing attitude has not tainted our own parish. While our parish leadership is indeed intent on being responsible stewards of money and preparing for a secure future, they have also agreed that we need to work towards the goal of a balanced budget. It takes time as we build ministry that will change lives and enable growth. And there may, in fact, be times in which we need to sacrifice the ideal of a 4% annual endowment draw because there is a ministry or cause worth supporting. If you ask me, this is meet and right; this is valuing “the life that really is life.” Such a flexible spirit reflects a growing spirit of abundance in this parish, and I’m thrilled by that.
Our recent capital projects fundraising campaign also reflects this parish’s intention to be good and responsible stewards of what God has entrusted to our care, in this case, our buildings and property. It is fitting that as we conclude a week of Rogation Days we also conclude this campaign. We’re actively trying to balance vibrant ministry with caring for over 15,000 square feet of property. It’s not an easy task, but our aim is to do so as prayerfully and faithfully as we can. Thank you to those of you who have donated towards this campaign. Your gracious gifts are making a huge difference in the overall health of our physical plant, which also supports the ministry happening within its walls. Although we have now reached our goal of $175,000, if you would still like to make a gift, you’re welcome to do so online. A reserve fund (not to be hoarded!) for capital projects has been established through this campaign, and so I invite you to consider making a gift at any time (perhaps yearly?) to that capital projects fund in addition to an annual pledge to the general operating fund. This allows us to continue to care for what God has given us for ministry.
As I’ve said before, every financial gift to the Church is a spiritual practice of returning to God what God has given us. In addition to the practical benefit of supporting crucial work to the parish’s infrastructure, giving to the Church and God’s mission on a regular basis perpetually shapes us to see all of life as a gift, and it forms us as a thankful people who give out of a trust in abundance rather than hoarding out of a fear of scarcity. In doing so, we become a people who render all of our lives back to God as we seek “the life that really is life.”
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle