You Have Been Entrusted with Much

October 25, Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: First Reading: Romans 6:12–18; Gospel: Luke 12:39–48

Paul speaks to us in the first reading, declaring with confidence that we live under his grace. As Christians, we have been entrusted with the message of the Gospel which is greater than us. We need the reassurance of grace to carry it on.

The emphasis of the Apostle Paul in Romans 6:12–18 is on the freedom to choose obedience to grace or to the law of sin. He nonetheless affirms his conviction that the community is obedient from the heart to the Gospel teachings. We know that it is not always true for many of us. Weak as we are, let sin lead us rather than grace.

The steward, whom the Gospel presents and who, in the absence of the master, abuses the resources entrusted to him and behaves tyrannically toward the other servants, represents the sad example of those who let go of themselves and succumb to their worst instincts, which will always manifest as oppressive actions toward others.

We are the stewards of the welfare of our brothers and sisters, stewards of the values of the Gospel, and the quality of our fidelity will be seen in our behavior in the relationship with those entrusted to our care.

The obedience from the heart, Paul mentions, is manifested in attitudes based on freedom, not in fear of the master, who might be back at any moment and punish our ill behavior. This kind of obedience sets us free and moves us to be at the service of our neighbors, who represent Jesus to us. By serving the servants, we serve the Master. Am I obedient from the heart to God’s law, or do I obey in fear of being punished?

All of us have been entrusted with much. Maybe it is time we started choosing to live by gospel-like attitudes: non-violence, kindness, and peace.