20221019 RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD
19 October, 2022, Wednesday, 29th Week in Ordinary Time
First reading |
Ephesians 3:2-12 © |
The pagans now share the same inheritance
You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery, as I have just described it very shortly. If you read my word you will have some idea of the depths that I see in the mystery of Christ. This that has now been revealed through the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets was unknown to any men in past generations; it means that pagans now share the same inheritance, that they are parts of the same body, and that the same promise has been made to them, in Jesus Christ, through the gospel. I have been made the servant of that gospel by a gift of grace from God who gave it to me by his own power. I, who am less than the least of all the saints have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed. Through all the ages, this has been kept hidden in God, the creator of everything. Why? So that the Sovereignties and Powers should learn only now, through the Church, how comprehensive God’s wisdom really is, exactly according to the plan which he had had from all eternity in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is why we are bold enough to approach God in complete confidence, through our faith in him.
Responsorial Psalm | Isaiah 12 © |
The rejoicing of a redeemed people
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Truly, God is my salvation,
I trust, I shall not fear.
For the Lord is my strength, my song,
he became my saviour.
With joy you will draw water
from the wells of salvation.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Give thanks to the Lord, give praise to his name!
Make his mighty deeds known to the peoples!
Declare the greatness of his name.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Sing a psalm to the Lord
for he has done glorious deeds;
make them known to all the earth!
People of Zion, sing and shout for joy,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Gospel Acclamation | Jn10:27 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice,
says the Lord,
I know them and they follow me.
Alleluia!
Or: | Mt24:42,44 |
Alleluia, alleluia!
Stay awake and stand ready,
because you do not know the hour
when the Son of Man is coming.
Alleluia!
Gospel | Luke 12:39-48 © |
The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.’
Peter said, ‘Lord, do you mean this parable for us, or for everyone?’ The Lord replied, ‘What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment. I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns. But as for the servant who says to himself, “My master is taking his time coming,” and sets about beating the menservants and the maids, and eating and drinking and getting drunk, his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.
The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes. When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.’
RESPONSIBLE STEWARDS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD
SCRIPTURE READINGS: [EPHESIANS 3:2-12; LUKE 12:39-48]
In the first reading, we read of the grace of God for all of humanity. It is the plan of God that all would share the same inheritance of being God’s children, belonging to the Family of God because we are parts of the same body of Christ. This gift is given to us all in Christ. Indeed, this has always been the plan of God from all eternity. The chosen People of God is no longer confined to the Jews but includes the gentiles.
As members of God’s household, we have a responsibility to play in the upkeep of God’s family. This is the theme of today’s gospel. All of us have been given the grace to play our part in building up the household of God. This household refers first and foremost to our own immediate family, which is the miniature church. Beyond the family, we are called to exercise our responsibility in the larger family of God, the Church. Even then the family of God does not stop within the church but extends to the whole of society, the country and the world.
Accordingly, we are called to examine our stewardship in life. Have we been responsible with the graces we have received? Jesus warns us in the gospel of being irresponsible with the graces given to us, like the servant who ill-treated his fellow servants, “eating and drinking and getting drunk.” Indeed, how often have we used our offices, positions in society, wealth and material resources for our own good and pleasure instead of for the service of others? We abuse our office and the trust given to us by those who believe in us. The Lord warns us, “his master will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not know. The master will cut him off and send him to the same fate as the unfaithful.” There will be a day of reckoning, either in this life or the end of his life, when we would be held accountable for all the blessings received.
The truth is that the more that is given to us, the more we are called to dispense. “When a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him.” We must never forget that we are merely stewards of God’s gifts. They are not for us alone. If we are leaders or hold positions in life, we are called to look after the household of God, of which every person is a member of God’s family. God expects us to look after His children just as He looks after us. That is why, the more we are given, the more we are called to give back. Wealth and talents are not for our selfish use but we are holding them in trust for the service of others.
As Christians, we cannot claim ignorance. At least people in the world might be blinded or be deceived by the world. As Christians, we know the truth as proclaimed to us in the gospel. This is particularly for those of us who are leaders and who know the gospel and the laws well. There is no excuse on our part. All the more, we are called to be responsible to manage the graces of God responsibly. Jesus told us, “The servant who knows what his master wants, but has not even started to carry out those wishes, will receive very many strokes of the lash. The one who did not know, but deserves to be beaten for what he has done, will receive fewer strokes.” Having been revealed the truth about ourselves and who we are, there is no excuse for us to continue to live a life of sin and self-indulgence. Our conscience will condemn us when the day comes. God will forgive us only when we are ignorant and do not know what we are doing. But deliberate sin is our free choice. It is an act of rebellion against God and His will. Unless we repent, we cannot receive forgiveness.
So we are called to live our lives in such a way that we are always alert and ready. “You may be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” There are believers who would start living a good life only when they hear of the coming of the end of time. But once the imminent day is passed and the end of the world does not take place, they return to their old way of life. This way of conduct is childish and it shows the lack of sincerity and trust. Rather, a Christian always lives responsibly in the light and in the truth, regardless whether it is the last day of the world or of his life. His conscience is clear. He is ever ready to meet the Lord when He comes because he has nothing to hide as he lives with a clear conscience.
Happiness in life is to live responsibly and to make use of what we have for our own growth and the service of others. In this way, we will not live in regret or waste our lives. Jesus said, “What sort of steward, then, is faithful and wise enough for the master to place him over his household to give them their allowance of food at the proper time? Happy that servant if his master’s arrival finds him at this employment.” So the wise steward proved himself to be trustworthy and responsible. The more we seek to do well in whatever responsibility is given to us, the better we become in what we do. “I tell you truly, he will place him over everything he owns.” As we excel and perfect what we do, then more difficult tasks could be given to us to manage. If we cannot handle small matters, we cannot handle big matters in life. Isn’t it true that we reward a worker by giving him more work and responsibilities when he or she proves himself or herself to be capable of accomplishing what he or she has been given to do?
Greater is the happiness when there is an increase of responsibility. Why? Life is rich to the extent that we can give ourselves to others. The more we can give; the better and happier we are. Saints are happy people because they are able to give all of themselves to God and the service of their fellowmen. The more we can serve, the more fulfilled we become. Those who live for themselves and think only of themselves will find life empty, meaningless and unfulfilling. In working for the greater good of humanity, we are building the household of God. By serving humanity, we participate in the heart of God’s love. This makes us more humane and brings us in touch with humanity.
Today, we are called to imitate the good example of St Paul in the first reading. He was passionate and responsible with the grace that he had received from God. Even in prison waiting for his trial, he did not stop proclaiming the gospel to all men. He was conscious of the trust that the Lord had given to him. He wrote, “You have probably heard how I have been entrusted by God with the grace he meant for you, and that it was by a revelation that I was given the knowledge of the mystery.” Having received this mystery from God, he felt responsible in announcing to all the nations.
What is the secret of commitment to stewardship? It is gratitude. St Paul wrote, “I have been made the servant of that gospel by a gift of grace from God who gave it to me by his own power. I, who am less than the last of all the saints, have been entrusted with this special grace, not only of proclaiming to the pagans the infinite treasure of Christ but also of explaining how the mystery is to be dispensed.” The day we come to realize how fortunate we are of the blessings we have received, we will become generous. It is arrogance to think that what we are today is due to our hard work alone. All that we have, including our health, are blessings from God. We must never forget that we remain at the end of the day, stewards of His blessings. We receive them not for ourselves alone but for the good of the family of God. So it is with gratitude that we take what we need, and the rest are distributed to the larger family of God for the use of everyone. Those who are irresponsible often lack gratitude for what they have, and thus abuse what they have.
Written by His Eminence, Cardinal William SC Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore © All Rights Reserved.
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