For us as Catholics and Christians, the Lord does not make it easy. He has high expectations of and for us. Stewardship is a way of life, which allows us to meet the Lord’s expectations of us. In their pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, the United States Bishops speak of stewardship and the expectations that exist for us in this way:
“The Lord’s way is not a way of comfortable living or of what Dietrick Bonhoeffer, in ‘The Cost of Discipleship,’ scornfully calls ‘cheap grace.’ It is a costly grace because it requires a disciple for Jesus’ sake to put aside craving for domination, possession, and control.”
The expectation that we will live as good stewards is based not upon equal giving, but upon equal sacrifice. We are all called to lives of discipleship and stewardship. Jesus tells us that His expectations of us are closely connected to how we have been graced and blessed. A planned portion of our time, our talents, and, yes, our treasure, needs to be shared with our community and with those in need.
