Stewardship

Wednesday, October 23, 2019 29th Week in Ordinary Time 1st Reading: Rom 6: 12-18 Gospel: Lk 12:39-48 Jesus said to his disciples, “If the master of the house had known at what time the thief would come, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.” Peter said, “Lord, did you tell this parable only for us, or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Imagine, then, the wise and faithful steward whom the master sets over his other servants to give them food rations at the proper time. Fortunate is this servant if his master on coming home finds him doing his work. Truly, I say to you, the master will put him in charge of all his property. “But it may be that the steward thinks: ‘My Lord delays in coming,’ and he begins to abuse the menservants and the servant girls, eating and drinking and getting drunk. Then the master will come on a day he does not expect him and at an hour he doesn’t know. He will discharge his servant and number him among the unreliable. “The servant who knew his mas­ter’s will, but did not prepare to do what his master wanted, will be punished with sound blows; but the one who did what deserved a punishment without knowing it shall receive fewer blows. Much will be required of the one who has been given much (…).”

D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE (Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience) Today’s Gospel is about stewardship. Below are some points of reflection so arranged to form the acronym “steward” for better recall. “Strive to be sincere”. The word sincere comes from the Latin “sine” (without) and “cera” (wax). A “waxed” person is a dangerous steward because duplicity beclouds accountability. Closely related to this is “Truthfulness”. A steward stands true to his role even in the long absence of his master. He “Endures until his Master’s arrival”. A dishonest steward won’t get away with duplicity because the master can arrive any moment. “Wisdom” counsels honesty and faithfulness. When one follows wisdom’s counsel, he overcomes the temptation to abuse power in the absence of the master. A steward must be “Accountable all the time” because that is the only way the Master is assured that his property is in good hands. He will later “Reap his well-deserved reward” because when in constancy he serves, his master will be overwhelmed and will not withhold from him his well-deserved reward. Finally, a steward must be in the habit of prayerful “discernment”. His prayer is: “Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference” (Reinhold Niebuhr). – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., JD., DM.