In this Sunday’s Gospel from Matthew, the disciples find themselves caught in a storm. The wind is strong, the waves are high, and fear begins to overtake them. Then, amid the darkness, Jesus comes toward them walking on the water. Peter steps out of the boat in faith, but when he focuses on the wind instead of Christ, he begins to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out His hand and says, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”
Every parish experiences moments that feel like stormy seas. Budgets must be balanced, ministries supported, buildings maintained, and our mission carried forward in an ever-changing world. It can be tempting to focus only on the waves before us rather than the One who calls us forward! I am just as guilty as you on this; I often focus on the pending and what might happen if we do not have enough to continue, enough staffing, etc., rather than the faith that God brought us this far, chances are, He has us in His hand for tomorrow. But, alas, I am human and I admit that fail often at the faith! However, it is my job – and the demand of my vocation – as Pastor. And, while some of you might object or not understand the gravity of what I am entrusted with, it is very important to me to keep us here. I know that without me planning, budgeting, worrying, and sometimes angering some of you, disappointing others, failing often too, we are still here and so are all those who reply on us. If we fail, every priest and deacon, our music team, teachers, maintenance team, and others also lose their jobs and livelihoods, me included. When we fail to give to support together, others potentially must be let go, or worse, we close.
This is why today, I am deeply grateful to share that, through your generosity, commitment, and faithful stewardship, our parish has reached a balanced budget for the coming year; the first since 2020! It is being presented to the Board next meeting for approval. It has taken a lot of work, but we did it! It is also amazing because we did this without two major pledges coming through which brought our average weekly giving totals down. Yet, despite the downturn, on faith, this is much more than a financial milestone—it is a testament to what God accomplishes when a community chooses faith over fear.
Together, we have kept our eyes on Christ. Your prayers, your financial support, your volunteer service, and your unwavering belief in the mission of Saint Miriam have made this possible. Because of you, we can continue to proclaim the Gospel, celebrate beautiful liturgy, welcome every person without exception, educate our children, care for those in need, and build a community where God’s love is experienced every day.
Like Peter, we are continually invited to step out of the boat. A balanced budget is not the finish line—it is simply the solid footing that allows us to continue walking wherever Christ leads us next. There will always be new opportunities to serve, new lives to touch, and new ways to share God’s extravagant love.
Thank you for trusting God, for trusting one another, and for believing in the future of Saint Miriam. May we never lose sight of Christ, even when the winds rise, knowing that His outstretched hand is always leading us forward.
With gratitude and every blessing,
Monsignor Jim