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SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

1 Samuel 26:2-23     1 Corinthians 15:45-49     Luke 6:27-38

Adam Henry

February 18, 2001

Good morning (evening), my name is Adam Henry. I am 18 years old and a senior at Snider High School. I am active in the Snider music department and I play golf on the school team. I am also a member of the National Honors Society. Next fall I will be attending Indiana University, where I will pursue a career in law.

I am the oldest of five children and my family and I have attended St. Jude for the past twelve years. I have two loving and caring parents who have taught me the importance of contributing what I can toward being an active member of the parish. With my parents leading by example, my siblings and I have seen the importance of giving time, talent and treasure and have attempted to incorporate it into our lives as well. In addition to tithing their treasure, my dad serves on the Liturgy Committee and teaches religious education. My mom served on the parish council and is currently a sacristan. My sister Emilie is a youth cantor and sings at Mass on occasion, and my sister Caitlin is a first-year server. Often, you will see all three of my sisters bringing up the gifts. As for myself, I have been a server for the past eight years.

I know that stewardship means different things to different people. I'd like to share with you what stewardship has come to mean to me.

When I first started serving, I found it to be a chore. After all, there was a lot to learn and, to be honest, standing up here before the congregation can be a bit unnerving. But before long, I began to understand the importance of what I was doing and I grew to really enjoy it. I realized that serving is an integral part of the Mass, and one that is deeply rooted in church history. I learned that servers, along with ushers, cantors, lectors, Eucharistic ministers and sacristans, play an important role in the Mass and that, without us all, including those of you in the pews, it would be difficult to celebrate the Eucharist.

I also learned that my role as a server has brought me closer to the Word not only physically but also spiritually. I have come to realize that I get more out of the Mass when I serve than when I am sitting in a pew. I feel as though this happens because I pay more attention to what I am doing physically, which in turn, helps me to understand it spiritually.

From time to time, a parishioner will come up to me after Mass and compliment me on a job well done. These expressions of appreciation, while always heartwarming and gratifying, came as a surprise because I never realized that people were paying attention to the job I was carrying out. It made me aware of the importance of the little jobs to the over all celebration of Mass.

Above all, the most important part of being a server is knowing that this is the best way I can give of my time and talent. My parents have always told me that my studies come first and, consequently, they have discouraged me from getting a paying job. It has something to do with scholarships. Anyway, I have been unable to give of my treasure to the church or other charities because I do not have a steady income. I can, however, contribute every time I put on the servers' alb. Every Sunday I make sure that there are enough servers to help with Mass.

I have been blessed with many wonderful gifts throughout my life. I have a loving family and a beautiful home. My health is good and I have been given the opportunity to attend a good college because of the grades I have earned. I have also been blessed with a beautiful girlfriend who cares for me deeply. God has blessed me with these gifts and so many others that I feel that serving is the best way I can give Him back some of what He has given me. Time, talent and treasure are not that much for me to give back compared to all the wonderful gifts He continues to bless me with.

As my academic journey leads me to Bloomington, next year, I have every intention on finding ways to continue my faith journey by finding a Catholic church that welcomes me -- and needs me -- as St. Jude's has. After finding that church, I will inquire about how my time and talent could be used in their parish. In addition, after I find a part time job, I will tithe accordingly.