20 OCTOBER 2021 LUKE 12:39-48
Wednesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
STEWARDSHIP THROUGH DISCIPLESHIP
“Who then is the faithful and wise Steward, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns” (Luke 12:42-43).
Once St. Augustine told about his vocation as a bishop, “With you I am a Christian and for you I am a Bishop”. These words remind us of two kinds of stewardships as St. Augustine said; namely (1) “Stewardship through leadership” as a Bishop and (2) Stewardship through discipleship as a Christian.
In today’s gospel Jesus asks Peter a question. “Who is a faithful steward?” This is an invitation for Peter to realize about this twin stewardship he has. Peter is called to ‘stewardship through leadership’ as the fisher of men through Papacy. Anyone elected as Pope is the successor of Peter and anyone elected as a bishop is a successor of apostles taking up the same responsibility of ‘stewardship through leadership’. They are called in a special way through leadership by the stewards of the Lord’s House – Church.
All of us are not called for stewardship through leadership. But, we are all called to stewardship by the virtue of our ‘Universal call to holiness through discipleship’. We lead this life of stewardship through two ways: firstly, by surrendering our lives for the glory of God. Secondly, by being at the service of others. Amen.