Word to the Wise
Saturday, November 7, 2009 - Saturday in the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
[Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27 and Luke 16:9-15]The person who is trustworthy is very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.......[Luke]
One of the most valuable "intangibles" in life is "trust." Whom can we trust? Who, indeed, can trust US? Every year there is some researcher who does a survey on the most "trusted" persons in our society. I'm sure the info can be "googled," but it's not my intention to compare those "trustworthy" professions: teachers, lawyers, doctors, clergy...... I think Jesus' words in today's gospel scripture pertain to "stewardship," which is the practical manifestation of trust. We know the various ways in which we entrust someone with our health or our wealth. Do we reflect on what God has entrusted us with? A parent is entrusted with a child. A priest is entrusted with a community of the faithful. A public official is entrusted with an office for the common good! The human race is entrusted with a planet and all its resources. A baptized person is entrusted with sharing that faith with others! Uh oh! Are we "stewards" of the faith? Yes we are! Can we be trusted by God? Perhaps that answer is a bit more discomforting. Those who work in matters of environmental justice know the frustration of getting humans to realize that we are merely stewards and not owners of our planet. The same thing may be said of our faith! We are stewards and not owners. Jesus' teaching in regards to possessions goes against our notion of private ownership. We take the position that whatever is mine is mine to do with anyway I want! (This is why neighbors sue neighbors about barking dogs, fences, etc.!) We can be the same way about faith: my faith is my faith and I owe no one any obligation in regard to it!!!! If that is our attitude, we are indeed very untrustworthy servants who bury the Master's talent! AMEN