Last week we heard the story of the dishonest steward who wasted his owner’s property (Luke 16:1-13). He was fired, but before he lost his job, he enterprisingly reduced the debts of his master’s debtors so that he might get some help from them when he became unemployed. While his actions were devious, he was enterprising and using the talent he had been given. The parable reminds us that we are stewards or managers of God’s gifts to us in terms of time, talent, and treasure. One day we will have to give God an account of our stewardship and how we have used His gifts.
Today’s gospel parable of the rich man and Lazarus continues that theme (Luke 16:19-31). God blessed the rich man with tremendous treasure, yet he was so insensitive and self-centered that he shared nothing of his food and treasure with poor Lazarus. The rich man was a poor, ungrateful steward and rightly deserved the punishment he received after death.
Stewardship is about using God’s gifts of time, talent and treasure to help build up God’s kingdom on earth. It’s about caring and sharing with God and neighbor because we have developed an attitude of gratitude.
One thing we should remember is “the more we give in time, talent and treasure, the more we get” both here and hereafter. GOD WILL NOT BE OUTDONE IN GENEROSITY.
- Fr. Carl
“How does Joseph respond to his calling to be the protector of Mary, Jesus and the Church? By being constantly attentive to God, open to the signs of God’s presence and receptive to God’s plans, and not simply to his own…In him, dear friends, we learn how to respond to God’s call, readily and willingly, but we also see the core of the Christian vocation, which is Christ! Let us protect Christ in our lives, so that we can protect others, so that we can protect creation!”
- Pope Francis
