August 7, 2016 — Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wis 18: 6-9; Ps 33: 1, 12, 18-19, 20-22; Heb 11: 1-2, 8-19; Lk 12: 32-48
At the close of today’s Gospel Reading from St. Luke, Jesus makes a statement that will echo forever to those who seek to practice stewardship: “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Jesus is speaking of His expectations of us and His faith in us.
We often speak about how important faith in the Lord is, but we also need to understand that He has a strong element of faith and trust in us as well. It may not seem fair that expectations are connected to the gifts we have received, but that is in fact reality. A popular stewardship saying is “not equal giving but equal sacrifice.”
That goes hand in hand with what the Lord is trying to teach us in the Parable of the Faithful Servant in today’s Gospel. First, of course, we must recognize our gifts and that we are gifted. Then God’s expectations of us are tied to how we use our gifts. If we receive more, we need to share more and give more of our time, our talent, and our treasure.
Also in the Gospel of Luke in an earlier chapter we learn from the Lord what the rewards are for using God’s plentiful gifts as good stewards. Jesus says in Luke 6:38 “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
