Fellowship allows us the chance to be a good steward

By SHANNON ROH
For The Catholic Week
If there is one thing I have learned this past year through these challenging circumstances, it is that God intended for us to be together in communion with one another. The things I have missed most are big family gatherings and large events at my parish with my parish family. Fellowship allows us the opportunity to be a good steward in ways we may not have imagined. 
As good stewards we are called to recognize the gifts God gave us to share with the world. Sharing our gifts in our everyday life affects people in ways we may never know. A simple smile and kind word to a cashier could be the ray of light they needed to spread the same cheer to the next person they encounter. Remember, a smile is contagious. Thanks to COVID-19 our smiles may be masked, but the result shines through our eyes like rays of light.     
“All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.” — James 1:17
In the Acts of the Apostles we are told that Christ’s apostles performed many “signs and wonders” in public. Because the apostles shared the gifts God gave them, they changed the lives of “a great number of men and women” who were led to believe in the Lord.  When we live our life practicing daily acts of love, compassion, kindness and generosity we are instruments of evangelization and stewardship. As good stewards we believe that if we focus on Christ each day, everything we do has the power to transform a life in this broken world. 
“Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico.” — Acts 5:12
When we're together, we are given more opportunities to share out gifts and show acts of love, compassion, kindness and generosity with one another. We can embrace every aspect of stewardship when we attend and participate in Mass. 
When we receive the Eucharist we are in communion together at the Lord’s Table. It is no coincidence that Jesus’ first public miracle was at a wedding celebration where they ran out of wine. So, Jesus turned six 20-30 gallon jars of water into fine wine. Now that was a party!   
“Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs in Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” — John 2:11
— Shannon Roh is the Executive Director of the Office of Development and Stewardship for the Archdiocese of Mobile.