Word to the Wise
Friday, September 7, 2012 - Friday in the 22th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Cor 4:1-5 and Luke 5:33-39]Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. [1 Cor.]
St. Paul refers to a common figure in everyday Greek economic life - the steward. This man would be somewhat equivalent to the chief butler in a large household or the manager of a store. He would not be the owner. He indeed might be a kind of slave in the culture of the time. Still, the responsibility would be a heavy one. Jesus refers to the same type of person in his preaching about preparation for his second coming - the prudent servant whom the master places in charge of the household.
There are two important points in his description (which applies to any disciple): we are not the owners of God's truth or God's church - we are stewards, and people have a right to expect a high level of integrity from a steward of God's mysteries. Any baptized person is by that very fact a "steward" insofar as Christian conduct is a revelation of God's love. However some disciples are called to exercise particular stewardship with regard to these same mysteries of God. This extends from Pope to catechist. If these persons cannot be found trustworthy, tremendous harm can be done both in what is supposed to be done and in the loss of confidence by those in need. Any minister will experience failure from time to time, but there are some mistakes that one does not want to make even once! As a priest and preacher, I do not own the Word of God or the sacraments of the church. My responsibility is to preach well and administer the sacraments in a dignified manner. I will be held accountable for this. We can all make the same appication of St. Paul's description to our own lives. AMEN
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