I began thinking about stewardship in the early 1990s when the Roman Catholic Church in the United States first began to take stewardship seriously. I had the great privilege of learning about stewardship from Seattle Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy, now deceased, who at that time was chairman of the U.S. bishops’ ad hoc committee on stewardship and the principal architect of Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, the pastoral letter published by the bishops in 1992. This pastoral letter marks the official introduction of the word “stewardship” into the lexicon of Roman Catholicism—at least in the United States.
The pastoral letter, Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, describes a Christian steward as “one who receives God’s gifts gratefully, cherishes and tends them in a responsible and accountable manner, and returns them with increase to the Lord” (SDR, p. 9). Because God never stops giving, a Christian steward is constantly being invited (and challenged) to receive, cherish, share and return-with-increase the fruits of God’s abundant generosity. This is why stewardship is a lifelong responsibility. As long as God keeps giving, we are called to be open and responsive to his gifts (his grace).
Stewardship is a source of deepening spirituality because it challenges us to let go of any false notions that we are somehow in control of our lives, our skills and our talents, or our material possessions. We are not the authors of our own existence. We are not the owners of our spiritual and material gifts. We are stewards (caretakers or custodians) of what belongs exclusively and entirely to God.
God has given us the gift of life. Our response should be to praise God for this great treasure and to demonstrate our gratitude by taking care of (and sharing) this wonderful gift. We have received the gift of intelligence. We are responsible for developing our minds and growing in wisdom and understanding. We have been given the skills and abilities that allow us to earn a living, care for those we love, and contribute to the common good by our work and by our service to others in the Church and in our community. These gifts of time and talent make it possible for us to acquire the material possessions that we need and enjoy. All God’s gifts are good. They are meant to be used responsibly and shared generously with others.
Stewardship is a source of grace when it helps us develop what Archbishop Murphy called a lifestyle of sharing. When we respond to God’s goodness by growing in gratitude, responsibility and generosity, we can experience the difference that stewardship makes in our daily lives. As the archbishop says, stewardship invites us to reflect on what is most basic and fundamental in our lives—and to respond from the heart.
Stewardship is not a program. It is a way of life. It requires nourishment and practice. A Christian steward is one who makes a conscious decision to remain open to God’s grace and to respond generously (from the heart) to whatever opportunities and challenges may come.
In his final reflections on stewardship, Archbishop Murphy acknowledged that even leukemia can be seen as a gift from God. He recognized the workings of a good and gracious God in the dedication and skill of the health care professionals who treated him, in the outpouring of love and support he received from family, friends and people throughout the Church of Western Washington State (especially the school children who donated blood in his name). He even saw God’s hand in the anxiety and fear that forced him to reaffirm his basic values, basic beliefs and basic convictions.
Last year, just after Thanksgiving, I was diagnosed with acute myelogenous
leukemia and related kidney disorders. I underwent a long hospitalization,
and during this period it did not matter who I was or what I owned. All
that mattered then was the skill of my healthcare professionals and the
providence of a good and gracious God! Now that I am out of the
hospital and feeling well (in spite of going to the doctor and the hospital
for transfusions of blood and platelets on a regular basis) I have a whole
new awareness of what stewardship means.
Stewardship helps us recognize that both the ordinary experiences of daily living and the most profound moments of our life and death are gifts from God to be cherished and shared with others. Since God never stops giving, our opportunities to respond from the heart are truly endless. That’s why Archbishop Murphy believed, with all his heart, that stewardship is a way of life—and a lifelong source of grace and deepening spirituality.
Copyright © 2017, Daniel Conway Permission is given to copy and distribute this Good Steward Newsletter for use in religious or educational settings provided that proper attribution is given to the author. This publication may not be sold or distributed to the general public without the express permission of the author.
