In our weekly reflections this month, we focus on stewardship, beginning today with understanding what stewardship means.

In everyday life, a steward or stewardess is someone who takes care of our needs, such as on an airplane or a cruise ship. But at its root, the word steward means a person who manages the property of another person. 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the “wily steward” who mismanages the master’s property. The steward is supposed to watch over things and use them properly, but he doesn’t.

Wealth, natural resources, scientific and technical advances are all part of our life experience. In themselves, these things are good, yet they can become such an integral part of our lives that we take them for granted, and when that happens, we can misuse them. We might forget that they are gifts to be used for good and for growing closer to God. We manage all things for God, and in forgetting this, we also forget that we are stewards of these gifts.

As we prepare to enter the summer months, hopefully experiencing some time off and enjoying the natural beauty of creation, let us reflect on how we can be the best possible stewards of God’s gifts.