Such a simple line from tomorrow’s gospel. It really triggers some thoughts from the books I am reading, the scriptures I am studying, and even some of the discussions I’ve been a part of. It’s funny how the Holy Spirit works that way, eh? “Take care and guard against all greed.” Jesus then goes on to talk about a man who doesn’t have enough to store all that he has, so he makes grand plans to provide for himself so he can have a long and happy life. Yet, that very night he is doomed to die. Then who will have all the stuff he has stored up? To who will that belong?
I think this is truly a call to stewardship. I have been studying that a lot the past few years, and more especially for an upcoming class in Aspirancy formation. What is Stewardship indeed? Many think of it as tithing, as giving a part of your money. Or just giving some of your time. Those are involved in it, sure. Stewardship is so much more. Stewardship is giving of self. It is giving everything you have, everything you are, everything you are to become… giving all of that to God for his Kingdom, and to your neighbor as you would yourself.
That’s a tall order isn’t it? Pouring yourself out like a libation? Giving of yourself so much that it hurts? Blood sweat and tears! Are we ready to do that? Wow, how hard it is sometimes just to give up a few minutes of our time in prayer. We sometimes get grumpy or angry when our kids want this or that, or our spouse demands this time or that time, when we had plans to do our own thing. In the long run, God calls us like this man in the Parable. He says, you fool… tomorrow you could be called away.. what is most important? God. Family. Friends. You see, I don’t think the rich man in the parable had a problem because he was rich. I think his problem became that he wanted more, and more. Instead of giving away all this excess, instead of sharing it with his neighbors and friends… he wanted to build even bigger barns and storage bins. Not so he’d have more to give away.. but so that he could party and relax.
We are called to emulate our Lord Jesus Christ. As the first reading says, Jesus was handed over for our transgressions, and raised for our justification. In what ways can we do this in our daily life? Hand ourselves over for others? Becoming stewards. Not just of our talents. Not just of our monetary treasures. Stewards of our entire lives… time, friendships, creation, economic, political, every sphere that we are involved in should be for God. Every action, every thing we put in our bodies, every thing we say, every purchase, every television show, every song, every breath, every thought and dream… should be for God’s glory.. and for the benefit of mankind. That is, we should be bringing God’s kingdom here and now. That is what being a Steward is. Knowing that God has given you everything you have, even the very life coursing through your body. Our response? Giving it back to him.. in every way possible.
In Christ, His servant and yours,
Brian