What is the appropriate response to God's generosity?

By Archbishop Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap. Cap.

When we think of the Church, we often think of our parishes. This makes a lot of sense, because that's where the tire hits the pavement in our lives as Catholics. At our parishes we encounter Christ in the Eucharist, couples are married, babies are baptized, sins are confessed and families come together for the burial of loved ones.

But our Catholic understanding of the Church is broader than our parishes. When asked, "What church do you belong to?" we should answer, "the Archdiocese of Denver." We never think of the archdiocese as our church, but it really is. Each of our parishes is a local expression of the archdiocesan Church.

I have the joy and responsibility of being the pastor of your Church. And each part of the Church, whether it be in the northwest corner of Colorado or the heart of Denver, is an equally important part of the body of Christ, and all of us are sisters and brothers to one another.

The Archbishop's Catholic Appeal is, in essence, our way of contributing to that body which is the Church of the archdiocese. We believe that the Church is the ongoing presence of Christ in the world, and so we are called as his Church to do as Jesus did, and that can be summarized in three brief reflections.

The first thing the Church is called to do is to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior -- even when the Gospel message is unwelcome in our hearts or in the world around us. So whenever we raise money, which is what the ACA is about, it has to be used primarily for that purpose: to proclaim Jesus Christ.

The second mission of the Church is to build up the community of faith. We must truly become brothers and sisters to one another and become part of a community in which all are loved, honored, respected and assisted. This calls us to respond generously to the financial needs of our communities.

The third thing the Church is called to do, in the imitation of Christ, is to reach out and care for those who are in need. Remember that Jesus didn't require people to believe in him before he loved them, healed them or entered their lives. As a Church, we have the responsibility to be the presence of Christ in the lives of others -- even those who are not believers. Again, all the money raised in the Church has to be focused in that direction.

And so, in our archdiocese, I see a three-focus ministry: to proclaim Jesus by our lives and by our words and to educate our children and ourselves in that proclamation; to build joy and fidelity in our community and to truly love one another; and to reach out to others and not be blind to the many needs in our communities.

People are, at times, surprised when I tell them I am never ashamed to ask for money. The reason why is because it was one of the primary activities of the Apostles. The Acts of the Apostles describe Peter and Paul as often taking up collections for the poor and for the Mother Church in Jerusalem.

Giving of our resources is a sign of faith. The Church invites us to share our time, our talents and our treasure. It is often easier to give our time and our talents than it is our treasure. For many of us, money symbolizes security. Yet, it is the tradition of the Church that we should trust in God's provision. All of us, the bishops included, should give ten percent of all that we are given, back to God.

Ten percent from the top. Not what's left over after the monthly bills are paid. This is the tradition of our faith. There is a great mystery here: the more we are generous with God, the more God gives back to us. In fact, he will not be outdone in generosity.

Many Catholic families have discovered the spiritual and temporal benefits of tithing. As soon as they get their paycheck, they put 10 percent in a separate checking account to be used for the needs of the Church, the community and the poor. As a general formula, at least four or five percent should be given to your home parish, one percent to the diocese, and the rest distributed to other charities: people in your family or community, local charities and even to those you encounter on the street. The Lord is so generous to us, and we need to be generous to him and to others.

I'm grateful for the ministry of being called as your bishop. I do it with great joy and enthusiasm, hopefully filled with the Holy Spirit. But I need each of you to be equally committed and equally responsive to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit in your lives. The Church isn't just the bishop -- the Church is each one of us. I invite you, through the Archbishop's Catholic Appeal, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus, to build a community of faith and to reach out to those in need. And know that I am grateful for your generosity.