Stewardship

Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop

Luke 16:1-8

He also said to his disciples, “There was a rich man and he had a steward who was denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.’ Then the steward said to himself, ‘Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.’ Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ ‘One hundred measures of oil,’ he said. The steward said, ‘Here, take your bond; sit down and quickly write fifty.’ To another he said, ‘And you, sir, how much do you owe?’ ‘One hundred measures of wheat,’ he said. The steward said, ‘Here, take your bond and write eighty.’ The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.”

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, grant that I may be a good steward of all you offer me.

Encountering Christ:

1. Giving an Account: This parable challenges us in many ways. First of all, it reminds us that we are to give an account of what we have been given. If we were to make a list of all that we received from the Lord, what would it contain? In what ways do we feel that we have made the most of what we have received for the building of the Kingdom of God and for his glory?

2. Astuteness: By the end of the parable, it appears as though the Lord is praising the children of the world. The steward was at least sagacious in preparing for his temporal future, looking out for future provisions. He was making use of a God-given gift, his intelligence. Despite the somewhat self-centered intention, he was astute. How often do we practice this virtue in light of our own stewardship?

3. Children of the Light: Luke’s Gospel, accompanied by his Acts of the Apostles, portrays the Church as God’s saving instrument, particularly instrumental between the death of Christ and his second coming. The Church is a gift that her children are called to make the most of as its stewards. Are we astute in our use of this gift? Do we neglect the salvific means the Church offers us in its sacraments? Do we hijack it for our own moral purposes? Or do we strive to understand this gift and astutely strive to be children of light?

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, how do you call me to be a steward of all your gifts, particularly that of the Church? Help me to see where my motives lie in my use of the gifts you offer me and help me to be astute.

Resolution: Lord, today by your grace I will listen to how you call me to be a steward in this world and in the Church.

For Further Reflection: Seven Themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

Jennifer Ristine is a consecrated woman of Regnum Christi dedicated to spiritual and faith formation through teaching, conferences, writing, and spiritual direction. While serving in Ancient Magdala she wrote Mary Magdalene: Insights from Ancient Magdala and “Nine Days with Mary Magdalene.”