Stewards of the Seed

September 19: Saturday of Week 23 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

1 Corinthians 15:35-37, 42-49; Psalm 56:10-12, 13-14; Luke 8:4-15

What is Jesus saying to us as stewards of his kingship? (To support Reaching Jesus... Step Five).

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…And bear fruit through perseverance (Luke 8:15).

God’s word is seed entrusted to all who are baptized. We are “stewards of God’s word,” charged to plant and preserve it in our hearts and in the hearts of others until it bears fruit.

The obstacles are:

1. the “devil”—the spirit of evil in the culture that keeps God’s word from even penetrating; 
2. superficiality—the lack of reflection that keeps it from reaching the depth of concrete choices;
3. “anxiety” that comes from attachment to the “riches and pleasures” of this life. It is our responsibility as stewards to “put the ax to the root of the tree” and counteract the causes that make God’s word sterile in ourselves and others.

This calls us to: 

1. work at transforming the culture through changes; 
2. engage in and promote Scriptural reading, reflection and discussion; 
3. find ways to put focus on value clarification at home, at work, in our circle of friends.

Does it really? 

If Jesus identified the three main threats against the seed entrusted to us, can we be “faithful stewards” if we don’t take steps to neutralize them?

We need to “put the ax to the root” in our own hearts by going to the root, the beginning of our Christian life. In Baptism we were solemnly anointed by God to continue Christ’s mission as Prophet, Priest and King.

PRAY: “Lord, keep me faithful.”

PRACTICE: Do one of the three things above.