St. John Neumann
Catholic Church

Guest column by Cathi Spornick

Msgr. Talley invited me to write a guest column for this week's bulletin about Financial Peace University at the beginning of Advent (shows you how much time and thought must go into each Pastor's Corner!).  My very first thought was how honored I am to be  able to speak to the entire parish of St. John Neumann.  I was 29 years old when I attended my first Mass at SJN and now that I'm 51 years old, I can say that we have grown old-er (I stress the 'er') together.  We've raised our children together, celebrated, mourned, struggled, and worshipped our Lord in the sacraments through all the seasons of our lives.  

I know many of you are facing enormous financial struggles, and maybe some fear and anxiety.  Many times we see finances as part of our 'practical' lives, not our spiritual walk, but I believe that Jesus has the answer for ALL our problems, spiritual as well as practical matters.  I love the scene in "It's A Wonderful Life" when Clarence has saved George and they are drying out in the boathouse.  Remember?  Clarence tells George, "Oh, we don't have any money in heaven!" like he doesn't have a care in the world.  And George says, "Yeah, well it comes in pretty handy down here, bub!"  George could never have imagined at that moment how God was going to solve his problem and give such great joy along with the gift.  Jesus really is our Lord in every area of our life, including our finances, and he has a solution for the problems we face.  There may be no financial problems in heaven, but he knows what we face on earth and he has provided us with a path, if we will only take the time to silence the daily clamor and listen.  The solution may be different for each one of us, but our God is a God of the unimaginable gift which meets our need and gives us unspeakable joy.

Msgr. Talley invited me to write a guest column for this week's bulletin about Financial Peace University at the beginning of Advent (shows you how much time and thought must go into each Pastor's Corner!).  My very first thought was how honored I am to be  able to speak to the entire parish of St. John Neumann.  I was 29 years old when I attended my first Mass at SJN and now that I'm 51 years old, I can say that we have grown old-er (I stress the 'er') together.  We've raised our children together, celebrated, mourned, struggled, and worshipped our Lord in the sacraments through all the seasons of our lives.  

I know many of you are facing enormous financial struggles, and maybe some fear and anxiety.  Many times we see finances as part of our 'practical' lives, not our spiritual walk, but I believe that Jesus has the answer for ALL our problems, spiritual as well as practical matters.  I love the scene in "It's A Wonderful Life" when Clarence has saved George and they are drying out in the boathouse.  Remember?  Clarence tells George, "Oh, we don't have any money in heaven!" like he doesn't have a care in the world.  And George says, "Yeah, well it comes in pretty handy down here, bub!"  George could never have imagined at that moment how God was going to solve his problem and give such great joy along with the gift.  Jesus really is our Lord in every area of our life, including our finances, and he has a solution for the problems we face.  There may be no financial problems in heaven, but he knows what we face on earth and he has provided us with a path, if we will only take the time to silence the daily clamor and listen.  The solution may be different for each one of us, but our God is a God of the unimaginable gift which meets our need and gives us unspeakable joy.

In Matthew's Gospel there is a miraculous story of Jesus feeding four thousand (or five thousand, depending on the chapter you read; either way, it's a lot of people!).  I love this story.  Matthew tells us that Jesus saw the crowd and took pity on them, since they had been with him for three days and now faced a long trip home, hungry.  (He KNOWS our practical needs, because he was one of us.) The people didn't have to tell him they were hungry and tired.  He knew their need.  What did he do?  He told the crowd to sit down.  I love that instruction.  Sit down while God prepares the answer to your need.  Rest; take a load off your feet. Give the problem to him to solve, since it is impossible for us to fix.  Imagine sitting there in the crowd in the front row.  You hear the disciples (those beloved people who never seemed to remember these unbelievable miracles!) go to Jesus and try to solve the problem in practical terms of buying enough food to satisfy all these people.  You overhear this conversation while Jesus asks "how many loaves do you have"?  The disciples answer "seven and a few fish".  Do you think Jesus is trying to "figure it out"? Or do you tingle with anticipation that the Master is about to perform another unimaginable miracle?  How will he do this?  What is he thinking?  It is clear to us in the front row that there is no way there are enough loaves and fish to feed the thousands of people.  There are no stores nearby, we are in the wilderness.  Do you grow more excited as you watch Jesus and wait with hopeful anticipation at what he might do?  Would you nudge the person next to you and tell them to watch him and to listen to what is being said as Jesus offers thanks to his heavenly Father?  He has raised people from the dead, cured the sick, repaired broken hearts and relationships, and forgiven sins; can he produce enough food?  Jesus could have just called the food into being from nothingness, but he chose to take what they had and what was offered, bless it, share it and collect the scraps to show there was plenty left over.  Do you hear the Master give instructions to his disciples to pass the food out to the crowds and do you see the miracle unfold?  Jesus has just performed the unimaginable, the impossible, to meet the needs of his beloved people.  It was just one meal, but it was given to the people when they needed it and were hungry for it.

Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is a 13-week, video course coupled with small group discussion that gives you the tools to manage your finances according to God's Word.  It is a scripture-based, common sense approach to being able to meet your family's needs and have plenty leftover to meet the needs of others.  If you look at your current financial situation and think "This is impossible.  I can't make ends meet.  I could never be out of debt or live without credit cards.  I could never have enough money to tithe my income; I can barely pay my bills now.  I can't imagine living without anxiety and worry about our financial future."  Please read Matthew's gospel and re-introduce yourself to the Source of unimaginable gifts and hope.  Please prayerfully consider joining us for Financial Peace University classes, or invite someone who you know would benefit.  We begin on Monday, January 12th, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in Donnellan Hall and will meet each Monday for the 13-week period.  The cost is $100 which provides you with an exceptional financial tool kit.  For the price of a full tank of gas only a few months ago or 13 Lattes, you and your family could be on the road to a peace that surpasses understanding and your imagination.   Visit our parish website at www.sjnlilburn.com to view a list of Frequently Asked Questions, and download the registration form that you can bring with you to the first class.

Father Carroll Stuhlmueller, in his book Biblical Meditations for Advent and the Christmas Season, writes: "It seems that when we have done our best, that 'best' must collapse so that God's dreams for us may be fulfilled.  Only when we offer to God our best, spontaneously, with full risk of not knowing the consequences, can God transform us beyond our fairy tales and wildest imagination".  

I hope to see you at the class!  For more information, you can also visit www.daveramsey.com to learn more about the class or contact me, at 770.923.0058 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

With love and gratitude,  

Cathi Spornick

 

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