Sunday Reflections

Many years ago in Canada, I took care of a Parish (St. Teresa of Avila in Elmira, Ontario) for three months where one key opened all the doors of the Church, the Hall, the Offices, and the Rectory.  When I went to St. Theresa’s Cathedral in Hamilton, Bermuda, I was handed thirty-two keys.  After five years, I still did find out which doors or cabinets some of them open.  I put them on four rings – the keys that I use regularly, to open the doors of the Rectory, Church and Hall.  I had another ring to doors that I use every once-in-a-while, another with the keys to the Diocesan Offices, and finally another for the car and garage. 

The other day when I read the gospel of this weekend (Luke 12:32-48) I thought of this, because central to its message is stewardship.  What made me think of the situation of my keys is that one of the models of a steward is the person entrusted with the keys, entrusted with the care of the property or the goods, but the person is not the owner.  The property or the goods are not his or hers, but they are only the custodian for a time.  They may be in charge on a day-to-day basis, but they are only ‘care-takers’ and not the master and owner.

Jesus introduces the parable of the unwise and selfish steward who did not take seriously his responsibility towards the master, nor towards the people and things that he has entrusted to him.  Jesus indicates this lack of responsibility – beating his fellow servants, wasting time, indulging in too much food and drink.  Jesus says that the steward “knew the master’s will”, he knew what he was supposed to do, but he did not act in accord with the master’s will.  He says that his punishment will be greater because he knew what had to be done; he knew that he was given great responsibility; and he knew that he was capable of fulfilling his mission, but chose not to!  He had been given so much, but in return, he gave so little.

At the end of the gospel Jesus says, “Much will be required of the people entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more”.  We may not want to hear those words, because he is talking to each of us!

We are stewards of God’s many gifts and blessings.  In our human condition we tend to look upon the things that are ‘ours’ exclusively for our own pleasure and enjoyment.  After all, we all have a right to the fruit of our labours.  There is no sin in possessing things.  What tips the scale, for us as followers of Jesus, is when the things of our life take on such an important role in our lives that the spiritual is forsaken, forgotten, and the ‘treasures’ of the kingdom of God – love, forgiveness, peace, compassion, patience and justice – are overshadowed by the ‘treasures’ in vaults, on mantels and behind glass.  In keeping with this thought, Pope Francis said, “The riches in your pocket aren’t worth much when you are poor in the heart”.

What does stewardship mean to us?  What does it mean for us to be responsible for what God has entrusted to us?  Today many people have a well-formed idea of stewardship, use of time, talents and treasure, in gratitude for all that we have been blessed with.  We see it in the Parish activities and programs – our liturgical ministers, our catechists, those in leadership, and others who are generous with their time and talents.  We see it in public, with people doing volunteer work in a multitude of services, and in particular those who reach out to the poor and disadvantaged. We see it in the financial contributions of so many parishioners to our own Parish needs, needs of the Diocese, and of the universal Church.  These are all based on choices that we make – to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us.

We should give ourselves ‘a pat on the back’, but at the same time we need to continue to challenge ourselves to interiorize more and more the call to faithful stewardship of what God has given us.  Jesus tells the disciples, “Do not be afraid”, and so we must also not fear or doubt what the Lord can and will do in and through us when we open ourselves to his call to stewardship.  We should continue to look for ways to do more – in our Parish, in our Church, and in the wider community.  Naturally, this giving should be with joy, not seen as an obligation or a duty, but as a response in gratitude for God’s graces and blessings.  St. Teresa of Avila said, “From frowning saints, good Lord deliver us!”  Our generous stewardship should be filled with joyful giving. 

Just like we all have our ‘keys‘ to our own world and domain, so too we all have our own responsibility as stewards.  Indeed, we have each been blessed and gifted so much, and have been entrusted with so much.  The Lord expects great things of us, being His faithful and faith-filled stewards.  Let us show “where our heart is”.