Stewardship of God’s Word: Reading the Bible

February is a transitional month,
especially with Ordinary Time ending
on the 21st at the doorstep of Ash
Wednesday, February 22, and the
season of Lent. Many of us also begin
to hope that spring will be around the
next corner. The first seed catalog we
find in the mail reminds us this must
be true, yet we know it’s not time to
turn the soil. We wait in the quiet of
late winter.

What better time than February,
before Lent and the advent of
spring, to settle in for some reading
and praying with sacred scripture?
February can be a quiet time of patient
reflection for the Christian steward.
The psalms, like so many biblical
passages, remind us of the benefits of
reading God’s word: “Your word is a
lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my
path” (Ps 119:105).

Our liturgical year offers us a
wonderful pathway to the Bible by
providing Lectionary readings for each
day. Our Sunday Gospel readings this
year come to us mainly from Saint
Matthew. In the month of February
we have an opportunity to reflect on
Christ’s teachings in his Sermon on the
Mount with its hope-filled Beatitudes.
This Gospel is ideal for spending time
with the Lord in quiet meditation.
Stewardship of God’s Word: Reading the Bible
In the Gospel of Saint Matthew
Jesus gives us a guide to Christian
living. If you choose to read this great
book of the Bible, consider just one
episode in the Gospel each time you
read it. Put yourself into the scene.
See what words strike a chord in you.
Ask the Lord to help you know him
through the Gospel reading.
One of the hallmarks of Saint
Matthew’s Gospel is his emphasis
on discipleship and what it means to
follow Jesus. Christian stewards look
to this Gospel to gain new insights
into their journey of faith; and much
like the desires of gardeners, long for
the seeds of the Gospel, especially the
Beatitudes, to be planted in their own
hearts. Find some quiet time. Pick up
your Bible. And use God’s gift of these
quiet February days to deepen your
knowledge of Christ through sacred
scripture.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Weekend of January 28 & 29

In today’s Gospel, Jesus begins his Sermon on the Mount
with a series of blessings, the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes
are a summary of the fundamental attitude of a Christian
steward. This speech sets the themes and tone for Christ’s
public ministry. He calls for a radical change in how we
respond to the human condition. Good stewards understand
that conversion is a lifelong process and trying to live the
Beatitudes is fundamental to this process. Make it a point
to reflect on this Gospel reading during the week. Identify
the blessing you relate to the most. Which one is the most
challenging for you?

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time: Weekend of January 21 & 22

In today’s gospel we hear Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James
and John to follow him. Following Jesus was a difficult
journey for these first disciples. It is difficult for us today.
Jesus wants to teach us his way of thinking, acting and
encountering the world. But it is not easy for us to embrace
his teaching. Good stewards of Jesus’ teachings realize
they are on a spiritual journey, and must learn from their
experiences of being open and resistant to the gospel. They
realize the need to be liberated from those actions that keep
them from enjoy¬ing a closer friendship with Jesus. What is
it in our lives that we need to reform? What keeps us from
revealing God’s glory to others?

Following Jesus

We follow all sorts of people and organizations on social media. Friends.
Celebrities. A favorite author, athlete, charity, or business. At times, we
may think before following: do we want the additional postings or emails?
Typically, following a business or celebrity does not require much of a
commitment. We may or may not read every post that comes through
on our feed. We might respond, or we may not. Even when we do, our
response is often as simple as hitting the “like” button. Following Jesus is a
very different sort of thing.

To follow Jesus means to enter into a relationship with him and to
exercise good stewardship over that relationship. When Jesus asks us to
follow him, we know that doing so is to have an impact in our lives. As
with any friendship, if our relationship with Jesus is to grow, we will have to
spend time with and pay attention to him. At first, this might mean taking a
few moments at the beginning or end of each day for prayer.

We may be more attentive during Mass; we may pause in the midst of
our day’s activities to notice the beauty of creation, the blessing of family
and friends, the gift of kindness and patience shared among co-workers.
The best of friends also influence each other, for the better. Growing in
relationship with Jesus will change us, leading us to think of others as well
as ourselves, often putting the needs of others first. We learn to be mindful
of those who need to know God’s love through our actions, serving them,
sharing forgiveness, mercy, compassion, and faith.

Following Jesus is the work of a lifetime. At every step forward, one
is challenged to go further in accepting and loving God’s will. Being a
disciple is not just something else to do, alongside many other things
suitable for Christians; it is a total way of life and requires continuing
conversion (Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, p. 15).

How will you follow Jesus now and into the future? How will you
learn from and invite him to have an impact in your life? How will your
stewardship of this relationship impact the way you live?

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Weekend of January 14 & 15

As the prophet Isaiah proclaims in the first reading, the Lord
continues to remind us that we are his servants. Imagine the
Lord speaking these words to you personally: “You are my
servant. Through you I show my glory. I formed you as my
servant from your mother’s womb. I will make you a light so
that you may shine the light of my salvation everywhere you
go, and reveal my glory to everyone you encounter. I will
give you the strength to do this. I will give you confidence.
Heed my words, for I have spoken to you.” What would
your response be to the Lord? Would it be different from the
response you give the Lord now?

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord: Weekend of January 7 & 8

In today’s second reading we hear the teachings of Saint Paul
to the members of the Church at Ephesus. He proclaims that
he, and they, are stewards of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and
therefore stewards of God’s loving, unifying and inclusive
grace. He also proclaims that the Holy Spirit is at work
within each of them, if only they would be open to the
Spirit. Today, our world races by with intolerance, violence,
desperate poverty, fear and division. At the beginning of this
New Year, perhaps it is appropriate to reflect on Saint Paul’s
words and ask ourselves how we can be good stewards of
the gospel today. How will we allow the Holy Spirit to work
within us? How can we be better stewards of Christ’s justice
and peace?