“Stir into flame the gift of God that you have” June 7 Happy 19th Birthday Sarah!

Piety

God, you set us here with a purpose and with the tools and teams needed to accomplish your work for the common good of all – the rich and poor, the powerful and powerless. Help us to recognize and exercise the gifts you have confirmed in us through the Holy Spirit for that mission of love.

Teach us through the scriptures, our leaders and our companions on this journey so that we are neither misled nor tempted to test you. When we follow you, we are led properly by the Good Shepherd to where you design us to serve in life. Amen.

Study http://www.usccb.org/nab/060706.shtml

Stir into flame the gift of God that you have. 2 Timothy 1:6

What if Paul was writing to you today? Fill in your name and life details…

Dear Tony,

Greetings to you and all your friends and followers in Arlington, Virginia. I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears of Maňanita and Palanca, so that I may be filled with joy, as I recall your sincere faith that first sprung forth on your Cursillo weekend experience at the Missionhurst sitting with Carlos and Jerry and Larry and Dave at the Table of Faith and Action back in October 2001. I am confident that faith still lives in you.

Let me remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have rather than letting it sit idle wasting time watching television checking your investment portfolio or in trivial pursuits.

God did not give you a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. You must exercise this power to keep it alive in you.

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. There is no easy way out.

He saved us and called us to a holy life of piety, study and action, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began. Now that love is made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus in close moments we have with our sisters and brothers thanks to the intervention of the Holy Spirit.

Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith, hope, charity and love that are in Christ Jesus who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

When you follow Jesus, you don’t continue the life you led before…you lead an entirely new life – a new life far better than the life you had before because Jesus transcends all human life.

So get out there and get to work. But guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. May God have mercy on you and grant you peace.

Your servant,

Paul

Action

Jesus wants us to be about his work for the common good of the Body of Christ and the children of God. However, if some of our political leaders have their way, American inequality is about to take a giant step forward with efforts to repeal or gut the estate tax.

From http://www.sojo.net/ and the Quakers: The estate tax has been in place for nearly 100 years and is a substantial source of government revenue as well as a major catalyst to charitable giving. Despite the fact that the estate tax only affects the wealthiest half of 1 percent of Americans - most family farms and small businesses are exempt – at a time when programs for the poor desperately need these revenues, some are trying to mislead us into cutting this tax. Many millionaires like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet support this tax and oppose repeal efforts.

As tempting as some political leaders say this action might be, we have to resist this temptation. As Jesus reminded us earlier this week, we must render unto “Ceasar” the just payments asked. Any repeal of the estate tax will cost an estimated 1 trillion dollars in federal revenue over the next 10 years, substantially increase the deficit, dramatically diminish the resources available to help low-income families escape poverty, and further increase the pressure on the budget from the high cost of war.

Make a call to preserve the common good! Ask your senators to oppose repeal or drastic cuts in the estate tax!

Call toll-free, 1-800-459-1887*, now!

Here's the message: Please tell your senators to vote against any motion or bill to repeal or drastically cut the estate tax. We cannot invest in the common good if we hand hundreds of billions of dollars to a tiny number of millionaire heirs.

Use the toll-free number above to reach the U.S. Capitol switchboard and ask to be connected to your senator's office. (The person at the switchboard can figure out who your senators are if you're not sure).

+ See how many estates paid the estate tax in 2004.

* The toll-free number is provided courtesy of the American Friends Service Committee which has launched a budget campaign, http://go.sojo.net/ct/wda1el91tzI8/. AFSC welcomes groups to circulate and use the toll-free number in support of nonpartisan budget goals and without linking the alert to a Web site soliciting donations or actions which may be used to support partisan lobbying or work.