Daily Retreat 09/05/08
2008 Sep 5 Fri: Ordinary Weekday
1 Cor 4: 1-5/ Ps 36(37): 3-4. 5-6. 27-28. 39-40/ Lk 5: 33-39
From today’s readings: “ Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God..... The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.... No one pours new wine into old wineskins....”
Stewards of the Mysteries of God
As an apostle, Paul was a servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God. A steward is one who is given charge and responsibility of that which belongs to another. Priests and the other sacred ministers of today continue this stewardship of the mysteries of God, which refers especially to the sacraments. We do not own them - they are not ours to do as we please. Rather, conscientious stewardship must always be exercised, celebrating the sacraments in the way Christ intends, for the purpose He intends. That's why simony is such an odious sin, when one sells the sacraments or uses them in another way for his own benefit.
Likewise, when a sacred minister unreasonably denies or illicitly modifies the celebration of the sacraments according to his own taste and ideas, he is similarly showing himself untrustworthy as a steward of the mysteries of God. In addition to the sacraments, the concept of sacred stewardship also applies to our own lives and gifts - all that we have and all that we are reflects what God has generously entrusted to our faithful stewardship - let us prove ourselves trustworthy, for "the One who judges...is the Lord.... He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God."
1 Cor 4: 1-5/ Ps 36(37): 3-4. 5-6. 27-28. 39-40/ Lk 5: 33-39
From today’s readings: “ Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God..... The salvation of the just comes from the Lord.... No one pours new wine into old wineskins....”
Stewards of the Mysteries of God
As an apostle, Paul was a servant of Christ and steward of the mysteries of God. A steward is one who is given charge and responsibility of that which belongs to another. Priests and the other sacred ministers of today continue this stewardship of the mysteries of God, which refers especially to the sacraments. We do not own them - they are not ours to do as we please. Rather, conscientious stewardship must always be exercised, celebrating the sacraments in the way Christ intends, for the purpose He intends. That's why simony is such an odious sin, when one sells the sacraments or uses them in another way for his own benefit.
Likewise, when a sacred minister unreasonably denies or illicitly modifies the celebration of the sacraments according to his own taste and ideas, he is similarly showing himself untrustworthy as a steward of the mysteries of God. In addition to the sacraments, the concept of sacred stewardship also applies to our own lives and gifts - all that we have and all that we are reflects what God has generously entrusted to our faithful stewardship - let us prove ourselves trustworthy, for "the One who judges...is the Lord.... He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God."
posted by FrPitstick | 9/02/2008
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