Grateful Discipleship: What if All You Got is a Drum

Christmas Eve and Day was just over a week ago. We celebrated the Nativity of the Lord. In America Christmas Eve and Day is well known for the giving and receiving of gifts. In Europe, some parts of South America, and some other parts of the world, the Christmas gift giving and receiving takes place on another day in the Christmas season – January 6, Epiphany, sometimes referred to as little Christmas, the day on which we celebrate the Magi visiting the Christ-child with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Whether gifts are given and received on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Epiphany, or some other occasion like a birthday or anniversary, there is an art to gift giving. I must know and consider the recipient. Another consideration is what I am capable of spending or doing in the giving of the gift. 

As was announced at Christmas Eve and Christ Day Masses and in the Christmas bulletin, this January each of our parishes is introducing a new intentional commitment program, called Grateful Discipleship, which seeks to help us all learn together about the principles of stewardship, which, stated simply, is receiving God’s gifts, understanding that all we are and have comes from God, and giving back a just portion of our gifts to God.  Living the life of a Grateful Disciple means that we acknowledge everything we have – including our time, our talents, and our treasure – belongs to God and that we are merely stewards of his abundance during our time on earth. We will spend time learning from each other what it means to truly appreciate all the blessings God has bestowed upon us and how we are called to share those gifts and to give thanks to God through our own giving. 

A key moment in the Grateful Discipleship initiative is the weekend of February 10 and 11 when we will celebrate Discipleship Weekend and Mardi Gras! There will be many opportunities for you to prepare for Discipleship Weekend and Mardi Gras by praying and learning about stewardship. 

One of my favorite Christmas songs is the Little Drummer Boy. A poor, little drummer boy is invited to see, honor, and bring gifts to, the newborn King. The little drummer boy considers what gift he might bring to the infant Jesus, given that he is poor like the just born babe of Mary. Then it dawns on him that he can play his drum for Jesus. Now, there are some funny online memes that question whether Mary, having just given birth and trying to put the baby Jesus to sleep, would have appreciated a drum solo. I happen to think she would have loved it! The little drummer boy offered what he could. He played his drum for him. He played his best for him. Pa rum pum pum pum.

Of course, there is no little drummer boy in the Bible, but certainly people like the little drummer boy. How about the boy who offers the little he has, five barley loaves and two fish, to Jesus even though it seems too little to make a difference? (John 6:1-15) What of the poor widow whose generosity is praised by Jesus, because her sacrifice is greater than those who are giving more? (Luke 21:1-4) 

Use all the opportunities we have prepared for you to prayerfully consider how you can receive, develop, share, and return God’s gifts. 

What if all you got is a drum? Play the drum for Him. Pa rum pum pum pum. Me and my drum.