Diocese of Toledo, Ohio

Browsing From the Pastor

A Perspective for Relating to an On-going Challenge

   Let’s picture ourselves in the following situation. Our family received a gift certificate from a beloved donor as a Christmas present to eat at a high-class, fancy restaurant. If it weren’t for the generosity of the donor, we would not be able to afford to go to this place.

   When we arrived at the restaurant and were seated, we had a top-class server who was sensitive to what each of us wanted and needed. This person gave us most excellent service. A good server personalizes the restaurant. As a result of her/his presence and service, she/he makes us feel very much at home in this classy place.

   The only responsibility that we had for this enjoyable evening was to leave a tip for the service that we had received. Realizing that our server needed what we would offer in order to make a living wage, we would want to offer a generous tip for the excellent service that we received. For receiving first class service, a number of us would leave a 20% tip, or at least one of 15% of the total of the bill. I would feel cheap if I was to leave a tip of 10% or even lower, especially if the amount of the tip could be deducted from the total value of the gift certificate.

   Living in this world, especially in our part of the world, can be likened to having received a gift certificate to eat in a classy restaurant. Our heavenly Father has provided the gift certificate that we now hold. What did any of us do to deserve to be alive, let alone to live in one of the richest nations of the world?

   The person who has been designated to wait on us is the Lord Jesus Christ. In and of itself, the world is a beautiful place in which to reside. In Jesus, as he offers Himself to us in and through the Church, God personalizes our visit to the high-class restaurant of living in this world. Our Lord Jesus Christ can be likened to a first-class server who is sensitive to each of us and to our wants and needs. As our server, He has done and continues to do all that He can to make our visit in this world worthwhile and enjoyable.

   A basic responsibility that we have in relation to all that we receive is to offer a tip. In the Scriptures, we are offered a guiding principle for what that tip might be. It is 10% of all that we receive. In relation to what we would give in a classy restaurant for excellent service, namely a tip of 20%, what our Lord asks of us is small. He invites and challenges us to arrive at the plateau of giving a tenth of what we receive as a gift to Him. Even as a server counts on what she/he receives in tips in order to make a living wage, so our Lord counts on what we are willing to give in order to extend His redeeming work in the world in and through the Church. In a top-notch restaurant, in gratitude for the personalized, first class service that we receive, we would want to express our appreciation in the tip that we leave.  

   In the restaurant of living in this world, God continues to offer us first class service in Jesus. Throughout our stay in this world, Jesus works to meet every one of our needs and wants. God’s care for us is tailor-made for each of us. Hopefully, we will grow in the ability to recognize this and to receive all that the Lord wants to give us. As we let this happen, will we not want to make as generous a tip with our financial resources as we can on a regular basis for all that we receive? In our on-going willingness to respond in this way, the Lord would continue to work in and through our parish communities to invite more and more persons to dine with us in the most beautiful part of the restaurant of living in this world, that of His Church.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Nelson Beaver – Pastor  

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