Living as a Steward -- part II

    Everyone has some responsibility for even a small portion of the world and an obligation in caring for it. Our baptism makes us stewards of this kind, able to act explicitly in cultivating and serving that portion entrusted to us.  Jesus is our model of such stewardship.  Through his act of redemption He reconciled all things to his Father, and "finally it will be He who hands over the kingdom to his God and Father." (1 Cor:19-20)  We must share in his priestly, redemptive work. We must offer up the world and all that is in it -- especially ourselves -- to the Lord of all.

    An example of this redemptive work is a stewardship of time which should include setting aside periods for family prayer, the reading of Scripture, visits to the blessed sacrament, and for attendance at mass during the week when possible; thus, lifting ourselves to the Lord. It even extends to experiences of deprivation, loss and pain, for they too can be offered to the Lord.  While all this sounds pious and desirable the secular world places obstacles in our way.  These include quest for pleasure, craving for absolute dominion and control, excessive individualism and ultimately the hopeless fear of death.  These are the consequences of sin -- sin which threatens the way of Christians and the identity of Christians as disciples of the Lord.

    Sin causes people to turn in on themselves, to become grasping and exploitative toward material possessions and people, to conduct relationships by a calculated self-interest: "What's in it for me?"  Nevertheless, another aspect of living as a steward is to seek God's grace of conversion, to know who we are, to whom we belong, how to live, and how to repent, change and grow.  Our tradition identifies one activity toward the quest of conversion as penance.  It is through penance, voluntarily accepted, we gradually become liberated from the obstacles of the secular world and sin.  Traditionally too, penance involves prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

    Stewards is not reducible only to one task or another.  It involves embracing, cultivating, enjoying, sharing and sometimes giving up the goods of human life.  Stewards live this way in the confidence that comes through faith, and  knowing that should obstacles be placed in front of them, God has provided a way to overcome them.

Fr. Bob Kraig and Stewardship Committee

           [God's Way of Life]   [Joyful Living]   [Disciple's Response]   [How to Live]   [Joy in Church]   [The Call]   [Living as a Steward I]  [Living as a Steward II]  [Church as Steward]