May 5, 2013 –– Sixth Sunday of Easter
Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29; Ps 67: 2-3, 5-6, 8; Rev 21: 10-14, 22-23; Jn 14: 23-29
Almost every definition of stewardship eventually gets down to the notion of “trust” — trust in God. That is certainly Christ’s message in today’s Gospel, when He says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” In other words, trust Me; trust My Father; and trust the Holy Spirit, Who is always with you and among you.
Nevertheless, we must never lose sight of the fact that trust as we understand, both it in relation to the Lord and in relation to stewardship, is a two-way street. Yes, it is our trust in God that allows us to take the risks involved in stewardship and give of ourselves and of what we have. Equally important, though, is that other feature of stewardship, of trust.
Trust has a dual meaning. Of course, it means that we have confidence in God as a presence, helper and comforter in our lives. Nonetheless, it also involves that other meaning of trust — something given to us, an interest we hold for God and the benefit of others. God entrusts us with several things we hold in trust: our families; the very earth on which we live; the Church; Holy Scripture and the Gospels. These are given to us in trust that we might nurture them, expand them, and return them to God with increase.
We are called to trust God, as He is our Advocate, but we must never forget that God trusts us, too. As Blessed Mother Teresa once said, “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
