In the Gospel for this Sunday, Jesus was asked what are God’s most important commandments. His answer was characteristically simple and profound: Give your heart, soul and mind to God. Love Him completely withall you have. And love your neighbors at least as much as you love yourself. But what does it really mean to love the Lord “with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind?” If we truly follow the Messiah, what does such love look like?
I spent decades working in the irreverent atmosphere of the modern newsroom. Yet the truth of Jesus’ words even percolated to the press. How many times did I hear editors quote the famous Watergate-era advice to investigative reporters: “Follow the money!” Actually, that phrase was not uttered by journalists Bob Woodward or Carl Bernstein or even editor Ben Bradlee. It was invented by a Hollywood screen writer. But it’s come to be widely recognized as sage guidance to understanding the machinations of politics — track the flow of money to learn where it came from and where it goes. It’s the same in our personal lives, too. After retirement from journalism, I find I’m still following the money. I became the Stewardship chairman at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia. But I’m no longer looking for corruption and dirty dealing. Instead, the ministry of Stewardship helps turn our money into a fragrant offering to the Lord. We come to know money only has value when used as a means of worship.
-Thomas Hargrove: stewardship chair of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Alexandria, VA
This piece excerpted from the Diocese of Virginia’s “To You All Hearts Are Open” Stewardship Series. You can read the entire reflection here: Thomas Hargrove’s Stewardship Reflection (PDF link)
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