use or lose
"His master said to him, 'Well done! You are an industrious and reliable servant. Since you were dependable in a small matter I will put you in charge of larger affairs. Come, share your master's joy!' " —Matthew 25:21
The Lord expects us to be good stewards not only of the money He has given us, but also of our time, talents, spiritual gifts, and graces. Our greatest responsibility as stewards is to be "servants of Christ and administrators of the mysteries of God" (1 Cor 4:1). We Christians have been given new life, a new nature, sonship and daughterhood in God's family, the forgiveness of our sins, the indwelling of the Trinity, Jesus' Body and Blood in Holy Communion, the meaning of life, etc. The Lord in His mercy has given us the best and the most. Therefore, we have the greatest responsibilities of any stewards. "When much has been given a man, much will be required of him. More will be asked of a man to whom more has been entrusted" (Lk 12:48).
If we aren't good stewards and don't administer the mysteries the Lord has entrusted to us, if we don't evangelize, telling the Good News of what God has done for us, Jesus promised to take away His graces from us and give them to others (see Mt 25:29). We see this happening as Christians in Europe and the USA lose their faith while new Christians in the third-world are showered with faith, joy, enthusiasm, power, boldness, healings, miracles, and religious vocations. When most first-world Christians failed in good stewardship by not evangelizing, they lost their faith and God poured out His graces on others. However, if we repent and evangelize, we will see God's graces return.
Prayer: Father, I have been given the ultimate. May I evangelize as if my faith depends on it.
Promise: "Let us not be asleep like the rest, but awake and sober!" —1 Thes 5:6
Praise: Praise You, Jesus! You are risen in glory and will come again to raise us from the dead. Alleluia!
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Bishop-Elect, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 26, 2011 (for 10-1-2011 through 11-29-2011) and May 26, 2011 (for 11-30-2011)
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