The Jesus Principle

November 3: Monday of Week 31 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Philippians 2:1-4; Psalm 131:1, 2, 3; Luke 14:12-14

Click here for the complete text of today’s readings.

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship?

(To support  Reaching Jesus: 5 Steps to a Fuller Life ... Step Five )

The Jesus Principle

“In you, O Lord, I have found my peace” (Responsorial, Psalm 131).

Paul’s formula is a definition for stewardship: “all looking out, not for their own interests, but for those of others.”

More precisely, stewardship is looking out for the interests of Christ, whose “managers” we became through baptismal anointing. But since Christ’s “interests,” after making the Father known and loved, consist in bringing others to the “fullness of life” (John 10:10) our focus is on creating a society that makes it easier to live with faith, hope and love.

Our desire is that every human being become consciously able to say, “In you, O Lord, I have found my peace.” Peace in heart, home, and all human relations. How can this happen?

We make it happen by living out Paul’s principle of stewardship: “looking out for the interests of others” instead of our own.” Jesus gives an example: “When you plan an event, do not organize it for those who can do something for you in return, your social circle and wealthy neighbors, but for the poor, and those crippled by their experience of this world.”

Then “you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous,” when you see those you have helped included.

Conscientious stewards take responsibility for urging this principle when they are (or can be) involved in planning parish and civic events, family gatherings, even national domestic and foreign policy.

PRAY: “Lord, make me a steward of your peace.”

PRACTICE: Keep trying.