Tag: stewardship

“And in three days I will raise it up.” | Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome

From the responsorial psalm: “God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 2:13-22)

Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.

The Jewish Passover is near, and many pilgrims travel to Jerusalem to worship at the temple. As Jesus enters the temple area, he finds people selling oxen, sheep, and doves. Money changers are seated there. In response, with a whip made of cords, he drives them all out and overturns the tables of the money changers. And he says to those selling doves, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” John makes clear what would otherwise be puzzling. Jesus refers to the “temple of his Body” in the same way Saint Paul refers to the Spirit that dwells in God’s holy temple: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Where the Spirit of God dwells—our bodies—is not the place for a noisy, cluttered exchange of things and ideas but a quieted dwelling place to receive the person of Jesus.

God, as a way to understand the Gospel, let me consider what today’s feast represents for the Church and what it means to me. The dedication feast calls attention to the Church on earth as the Body of Christ and a sign of what is yet to be in our eternal dwelling place in heaven. The disciples recognized the zeal of Jesus in the temple area but only after the resurrection came to understand that the temple of the Body would need to die and rise before we also could be restored to eternal life. The Gospel acclamation says, “I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever.” All thanks and praise to you, Lord, that you have made me to be your holy dwelling place even as I long for my eternal home in the life of the world to come.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Image: Sailko, CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_giovanni_in_laterano,_interno,_presbiterio_01.jpg

Perpetual adoration live stream Kolbe Shrine.

“The children of light.” | Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 16:1-8)

“For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”

Spoken after telling the parable of the dishonest steward, Jesus identifies a contrast between the shrewd stewardship of worldly goods and the kind of stewardship Jesus calls us to exemplify as children of light, his followers. Jesus doesn’t say that he approves of the dishonesty of the steward, but he recognizes his resourcefulness in a dire situation. What Jesus suggests to each of us as his sons and daughters who live in the light of faith is to be prudent as we care and nurture and preserve it. Our imperfect attempts meet God’s perfect grace. “Whoever keeps the word of Christ,” we hear in the Gospel acclamation, “the love of God is truly perfected in him.” In a time of crisis, from what source do we draw strength to maintain and uphold our hope as exiles. Our true home is elsewhere. “Our citizenship,” Saint Paul says, “is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Father in heaven, you give every good gift. The choice to follow you is mine and is not imposed but is your gift of free will. Help me use the things of this world wisely even as I choose daily to nurture and maintain your gift of faith to bring forth your kingdom to the benefit of others. Give me the grace to be prudent—even shrewd—as I seek to live as an honest steward of all of your gifts. To be a child of light means to look to the source of light for guidance. With childlike faith, let me place my trust in you, my sole hope for preserving every good gift you give me. Jesus, I trust in you!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Perpetual adoration live stream Kolbe Shrine.

Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 16:1-8)

Jesus said to the disciples: “And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest steward. The steward of a rich man was accused of squandering his property, so the rich man then removed him from his position. Realizing that he would be jobless and unable to do manual labor, the steward dreamt up a plan to take care of himself. As he talked with each of his master’s debtors, he reduced the amount they owed to the master. From this, the steward hoped to win over the debtors so that they would provide for him when he was jobless. Oddly, the rich man commended the steward for his shrewdness. In reference to faith and eternal life, it is not that Jesus promotes dishonesty but instead teaches the importance of using our resources wisely and being prudent in doing the will of the Father.

Father in heaven, what does it mean to be a prudent steward of your gifts? Among the greatest gifts you give me are ones that are invisible, and I am easily led to overlook them. As Saint Leo the Great says, “Ascending on high, the Lord took captivity captive and gave gifts to human beings: namely, faith, hope, and love. These gifts are great, are mighty, are precious, all because a marvelous inclination of the mind believes in, hopes for, and loves what eyes of the flesh do not make contact with.” Lord, help me today see and be grateful for the gifts you surround me with.

From the first reading: “For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to lead the Gentiles to obedience by word and deed, by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God.” Saint Leo the Great, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.