GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 19th October 2016
WEDNESDAY OF THE 29TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Ephesians 3:2-12
PSALM: Isaiah 12:2-6
GOSPEL: Luke 12:39-48
THEME: STEWARDSHIP
What is the feeling like when we hand over something precious of ours to somebody for safekeeping and then after sometime we discover that the person has tainted or destroyed it? Unpleasant feeling, I suppose. In the same way, when God entrusts something into our care, he trusts us to handle it with care.
Jesus had given a parable on the need to be vigilant at all times. As a good disciple, Peter asks, “Lord, are you addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” (Lk. 12:41). In response, Jesus gives an exposé on stewardship and concludes by saying, “The slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating will receive a light beating. From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded” (Lk. 12:47-48).
We are first and foremost servants and the moment God places a task in our hands, we become stewards. The word steward presupposes three things:
1. That which has been placed in one’s hands (property, task etc) has an owner other than oneself
2. The owner expects one to take good care of that which has been entrusted.
3. A time would come for one to render an account to the owner.
In a very broad sense, we are all stewards. God has entrusted something to every one of us. Even our physical bodies, though being used by us, are not ours for keeps. There is a divine Owner and there is a divinely appointed time when each one of us would have to render an account of our stewardship. If that is so, then we need to be vigilant. Two watchwords for a vigilant steward would be faithfulness and responsibility.
Like Paul who, in the First Reading, writes of his ministry as one of stewardship, may we live our lives here on earth not selfishly but selflessly out of love for God and our fellow human beings.
Prayer: Eternal Father, I thank you for all that you have placed in my care. Deepen in me the grace of faithfulness that I may carry out your perfect will in every situation. For the sake of Christ, I pray. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).