Today’s readings speak of an essential quality for the Christian steward— hope. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Hope is thetheological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven andeternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises andrelying not on our own strength but on the help of the grace of the HolySpirit (CCC 1817).” In many ways, this is the very definition of astewardship way of life — focusing on eternity as we live our daily livesand relying on God to provide for our needs and satisfy our deepestlongings for meaning and happiness right now.
In today’s Gospel from Luke, Jesus describes the true richness of lifethat is possible for those of us who are willing to live as his hope-"calleddisciples. We are all familiar with this passage in which Jesus revealsthe Beatitudes: blessed are the poor; they have the kingdom of God.Blessed are those now hungry because they will be satis"ed. Blessedare those who weep because they will laugh. Blessed are those who arehated, excluded, and insulted because they are disciples of Jesus; theywill be greatly rewarded in heaven. Jesus is describing here thecharacter of one who is living a life of hope – the life of a Christiansteward whose trust is "firmly rooted in God and who is focused onothers and eternity. It is not always an easy life, but it is a deeplymeaningful life and one that leads to eternal reward.
— Stewardship Reflections by Catholic Stewardship Consultants
BACK TO LIST