(This is a “Faith in Action” column by Msgr. John Enzler, the president and CEO of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.)

As I prepared recently to give a virtual talk on stewardship for St. Matthew’s Cathedral, I thought of two important lessons we all must learn to be successful in life: 

There is a God, and it is not me.

That makes us chuckle, but it really puts everything else into context. When we recognize that a loving God created us in his own image, we also realize that everything – all that we are and all that we have – is a gift. Our lives, then, are about responding to those gifts born of love as best we can.

For years, I have included a gentle reminder of this on my voicemail greeting, and I have received many comments about it. I say, “Remember, today is your gift from God. What you do with it is your gift back to God.”

I also like the way Father Pat Smith, the pastor of  St. Augustine Parish, stated it in his recent homily on the Archdiocese of Washington’s Sunday TV Mass: “Give yourself to God, and let God give you to others.”

I learned my first lessons in stewardship growing up, though I did not think of it in those terms at the time. I come from a large family and have 12 siblings, so my parents had to manage their resources. I remember how we always bought used cars instead of new ones, as my father believed it was more important that his kids receive a Catholic education. In our case, that was a huge commitment – 169 years of Catholic education in all!

Dad did not believe in spending too much on things. He believed in his faith and his family. I asked him one time what he gave in the Sunday collection, and I remember his response. “What I give to the Church on Sunday is one thing, and I do my best,” he said. “My main response to God is raising my children in the Catholic faith and giving them a Catholic education.” 

I think it is important to consider our response to God – our stewardship – by thinking big picture. What has enabled you to enjoy successes in your life? Some might say they come from being smart, or industrious, or from their creative spirit and entrepreneurial skills. I would then ask, where did those gifts come from? Why do you have certain gifts more so than others?

Some would point to a great education from world class schools. Again, where did that gift come from? Who paid for it? How did you get an education that others would love to have had but could not?

Others attribute their success to strong personal relationships that have helped them grow and find their niche. I know many people who started working at companies because of good contacts and moved up the ladder quickly. And how did those relationships form? Most likely because of parents or others who opened doors and made them possible.

Whether it is one or all of those – skills, education, relationships, and even luck – your path to success is a gift from God. The question for us is what we do with those gifts. Do we give back? Do we become servant leaders? Do we use our gifts and our resources to make a difference in the world around us? 

I have been richly blessed in ways too numerous to count, and I believe my blessings flow from three main blessings: my family, my Catholic education, and my priesthood. To respond as best I can, I try to become a better priest every day. For me, that means saying “yes” as often as possible. In fact, our motto at Catholic Charities has become, “Say yes all the times you can, and no only when you have to.” 

With “yes” as my preferred response, I receive back more joy in my priesthood. I am just happier when I can respond lovingly to others, and the response back has been truly phenomenal. That is why I called the talk at St. Matthew’s: “Almsgiving: The Treasure You Share Is the Treasure You Receive.” 

A story from years ago literally brought that point home for me. I was pastor at a local parish and had just finished presiding at a funeral. A man came up to me and said he had come in from West Virginia for his sister’s funeral but could not afford to get back home. I gave him $50 to help him out, and at that point, I pretty much forgot about it.

A year or two later, I was driving on River Road on a bitterly cold day, maybe 10 or 12 degrees. I saw a young man hitchhiking (back when that was more common), so I picked him up and asked where he was going. He was trying to get to Pittsburgh, and, while he did not ask for money, I also gave him $50. 

When I got back to the rectory later that day, there was an envelope from the man I helped get home from his sister’s funeral. Guess what was in it? Exactly $50 and a note thanking me for the help. 

I think he helped me as much or more than I helped him. His kind note and repayment on the same day I had just done the same thing for someone else reminded me that God is in charge. It also reminded me of the words of St. Francis that it is in giving that we receive — often beyond our expectations. 

During this Easter season, may we all reflect upon our blessings, how and why we may be blessed when others are struggling, and how we can respond. I must say that in a year when COVID-19 has taken away livelihoods and income for many, our community has been more generous than ever. It is clear that so many of you already appreciate your blessings and sense that you should use your gifts to help others. 

Catholic Charities is our go-to organization for helping those in need in our diocese. I am so proud to be able to lead Catholic Charities as president and CEO, making sure that we respond lovingly to those in need. I promise that we are good stewards of your generous gifts, which truly make a difference in people’s lives. 

There is a God who loves us, and we are not him. We should give ourselves to God, and let God give us to others. The treasures we share really are the treasures we receive. And today is God’s gift to us. What we do with it is our gift back to God. 

May God find us joyful givers, faithful stewards, and loving children.