Mass Reading: Sunday - 26th February 2023

First reading
Genesis 2:7-9,3:1-7
The Creation, and the sin of our first parents

    The Lord God fashioned man of dust from the soil. Then he breathed into his nostrils a breath of life, and thus man became a living being.

    The Lord God planted a garden in Eden which is in the east, and there he put the man he had fashioned. The Lord God caused to spring up from the soil every kind of tree, enticing to look at and good to eat, with the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the middle of the garden.

    Now the serpent was the most subtle of all the wild beasts that the Lord God had made. It asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you were not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?’ The woman answered the serpent, ‘We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden. But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, “You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death.”’ Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘No! You will not die! God knows in fact that on the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good and evil.’ The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye, and that it was desirable for the knowledge that it could give. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. She gave some also to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realised that they were naked. So they sewed fig-leaves together to make themselves loin-cloths.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 50(51):3-6,12-14,17

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.
    In your compassion blot out my offence.
O wash me more and more from my guilt
    and cleanse me from my sin.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

My offences truly I know them;
    my sin is always before me
Against you, you alone, have I sinned;
    what is evil in your sight I have done.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

A pure heart create for me, O God,
    put a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from your presence,
    nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Give me again the joy of your help;
    with a spirit of fervour sustain me,
O Lord, open my lips
    and my mouth shall declare your praise.

Have mercy on us, O Lord, for we have sinned.

________

Second reading
Romans 5:12-19
However great the number of sins committed, grace was even greater

    Sin entered the world through one man, and through sin death, and thus death has spread through the whole human race because everyone has sinned. Sin existed in the world long before the Law was given. There was no law and so no one could be accused of the sin of ‘law-breaking’, yet death reigned over all from Adam to Moses, even though their sin, unlike that of Adam, was not a matter of breaking a law.

    Adam prefigured the One to come, but the gift itself considerably outweighed the fall. If it is certain that through one man’s fall so many died, it is even more certain that divine grace, coming through the one man, Jesus Christ, came to so many as an abundant free gift. The results of the gift also outweigh the results of one man’s sin: for after one single fall came judgement with a verdict of condemnation, now after many falls comes grace with its verdict of acquittal. If it is certain that death reigned over everyone as the consequence of one man’s fall, it is even more certain that one man, Jesus Christ, will cause everyone to reign in life who receives the free gift that he does not deserve, of being made righteous. Again, as one man’s fall brought condemnation on everyone, so the good act of one man brings everyone life and makes them justified. As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Mt4:4

Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!
Man does not live on bread alone,
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory!

________

Gospel
Matthew 4:1-11
The temptation in the wilderness

Jesus was led by the Spirit out into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, after which he was very hungry, and the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to turn into loaves.’ But he replied, ‘Scripture says:

Man does not live on bread alone
but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

The devil then took him to the holy city and made him stand on the parapet of the Temple. ‘If you are the Son of God’ he said ‘throw yourself down; for scripture says:

He will put you in his angels’ charge,
and they will support you on their hands
in case you hurt your foot against a stone.’

Jesus said to him, ‘Scripture also says:

You must not put the Lord your God to the test.’

Next, taking him to a very high mountain, the devil showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. ‘I will give you all these’ he said, ‘if you fall at my feet and worship me.’ Then Jesus replied, ‘Be off, Satan! For scripture says:

You must worship the Lord your God,
and serve him alone.’

Then the devil left him, and angels appeared and looked after him.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 26th February 2023

 
GN 2:7-9; 3:1-7; PS 51:3-6,12-13,17; ROM 5:12-19 or 5:12, 17-19; MT 4:1-11

As we begin the beautiful and challenging season of Lent, our readings this week remind us why it is that we need these 40 days so much. They also suggest a particular strategy we Christian stewards might take as we make the journey towards Easter, so that we arrive there as better disciples — more focused on Christ and His mission for us.
 
Our first reading takes us all the way back to Genesis, reminding us of our Creator and the loving care and lavish gifts He gave to our ancestors, Adam and Eve. Out of pure love, He “formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life.” Then He “planted a garden in Eden… [and] made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food.” Life was good in the Garden!
 
Until the first couple allowed just a sliver of doubt in the goodness of God to enter their minds. 
 
Swayed by the words of the serpent that they could become like gods if they ate of the one fruit God had forbidden, they became ungrateful and distrustful despite God’s great love for them and all the gifts of creation He had provided. Sound familiar? These are the same temptations that threaten to pull us away from God today.
 
Our second reading, from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, sums up this ancient story and reminds us that the same all-perfect God who created Adam and Eve and that good Garden has provided a remedy for our sins — the saving love and perfect obedience of Jesus on our behalf. “For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous.” This is truly Good News!
 
Our first reading reminds us of our need for this 40-day “reset” to examine our lives and make changes where needed so that we can become stronger in overcoming temptations to sin. Our second reading gives us hope that this reset is truly possible through the mercy and grace of Jesus. 
 
Our Gospel passage, from Matthew, shows us by the example of Jesus Himself one way that we can attain spiritual strength and grow to become more effective disciples and stewards. In this passage we find our Lord in the desert, fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. Like Adam and Eve, He is confronted by the evil one. But unlike our fallen parents, our Lord triumphs definitively over the devil’s lies and sends him slithering away. How did He do it? By knowing the Scriptures and by proclaiming them confidently, and by His perfect trust in the Father. 
 

This Lent, let’s embrace this 40-day spiritual reset. Let’s commit to prayerfully studying the Scriptures. This could take the form of a daily family Gospel reflection, a few moments with the Psalms at the beginning of a lunch break or any other countless ways. If this requires a bit of “fasting” from social media or a favorite TV show in order to find the time, all the better since Jesus Himself fasted for 40 days, too. As faithful stewards, we are called to prioritize our use of time to seek relationship with our loving God. Let’s get to know Him better by studying His Word this Lent!

Mass Reading: Sunday - 19th February 2023

First reading

Leviticus 19:1-2,17-18

You must love your neighbour as yourself

    The Lord spoke to Moses; he said: ‘Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them:

    ‘“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy.

    ‘“You must not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. You must openly tell him, your neighbour, of his offence; this way you will not take a sin upon yourself. You must not exact vengeance, nor must you bear a grudge against the children of your people. You must love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.”’

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 102(103):1-4,8,10,12-13

The Lord is compassion and love.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

    all my being, bless his holy name.

My soul, give thanks to the Lord

    and never forget all his blessings.

The Lord is compassion and love.

It is he who forgives all your guilt,

    who heals every one of your ills,

who redeems your life from the grave,

    who crowns you with love and compassion.

The Lord is compassion and love.

The Lord is compassion and love,

    slow to anger and rich in mercy.

He does not treat us according to our sins

    nor repay us according to our faults.

The Lord is compassion and love.

As far as the east is from the west

    so far does he remove our sins.

As a father has compassion on his sons,

    the Lord has pity on those who fear him.

The Lord is compassion and love.

________

Second reading

1 Corinthians 3:16-23

You belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God

    Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple.

    Make no mistake about it: if any one of you thinks of himself as wise, in the ordinary sense of the word, then he must learn to be a fool before he really can be wise. Why? Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As scripture says: The Lord knows wise men’s thoughts: he knows how useless they are; or again: God is not convinced by the arguments of the wise. So there is nothing to boast about in anything human: Paul, Apollos, Cephas, the world, life and death, the present and the future, are all your servants; but you belong to Christ and Christ belongs to God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation

Jn14:23

Alleluia, alleluia!

If anyone loves me he will keep my word,

and my Father will love him, 

and we shall come to him.

Alleluia!

Or:

1Jn2:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

Whenever anyone obeys what Christ has said,

God’s love comes to perfection in him.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel

Matthew 5:38-48

Love your enemies

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to law and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him. Give to anyone who asks, and if anyone wants to borrow, do not turn away.

    ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on bad men as well as good, and his rain to fall on honest and dishonest men alike. For if you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 19th February 2023

 

LV 19:1-2, 17-18; PS 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 COR 3:16-23; MT 5:38-48

“So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Talk about a high bar! This verse, at the end of today’s Gospel passage from Matthew, sets the tone for all the readings this week. In embracing stewardship as a way of life, we have a custom-made plan that, with a big dose of God’s grace, will move us towards the holiness of life to which Christ is calling us in this verse.
 
Our first reading, from Leviticus, lays out this theme immediately, as God instructs Moses to tell the whole community to, “Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy.” The call to holiness is for everyone because every one of us is made in the image and likeness of an all-holy God. This call should therefore not seem strange or unattainable — on the contrary, it is a call to become our truest selves. And even in this ancient passage, we find practical instruction in how to begin to attain holiness: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
 
The first few verses of our second reading from Corinthians give a further reminder as to why we must live holy lives with this thought-provoking question, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” What great dignity we have as God’s own dwelling place. And what encouragement this should bring us — the call to holiness is possible because we have the Holy Spirit dwelling right within us!
 
The following verses from this passage show us that a life of holiness will not make sense in worldly terms, however. “If any one among you considers himself wise in this age, let him become a fool, so as to become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God.” The stewardship way of life, giving away the best of our time, our talents, and our treasure to God for His glory and for the sake of others, is the path to holiness. Yet, it appears utterly foolish in the eyes of many.
 
In our Gospel passage from Matthew, our Lord takes this “foolish” concept even further with these illustrations of how we should give of ourselves and our things: “When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand over your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go for two miles.” And further still: “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Jesus teaches that this is the kind of action and attitude that will make us “children of [our] Heavenly Father.” This is the high bar of holiness to which our Lord is calling us.
 
If your lifestyle and your priorities look a little foolish to the world around you, know that you’re probably doing it right in God’s eyes. At the same time, you will be filled with a peace that the world around you desperately needs. And your stewardship way of life may just draw those around you to the heavenly Father and a life of holiness, too.
 
So, with God’s grace and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we can confidently press on in the stewardship way of life, aiming to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect. Our all-holy God desires it and deserves nothing less.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 12th February 2023

First reading
Ecclesiasticus 15:16-21
God predestined wisdom to be for our glory before the ages began

If you wish, you can keep the commandments,
    to behave faithfully is within your power.
He has set fire and water before you;
    put out your hand to whichever you prefer.
Man has life and death before him;
    whichever a man likes better will be given him.
For vast is the wisdom of the Lord;
    he is almighty and all-seeing.
His eyes are on those who fear him,
    he notes every action of man.
He never commanded anyone to be godless,
    he has given no one permission to sin.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118(119):1-2,4-5,17-18,33-34

They are happy who follow God’s law!

They are happy whose life is blameless,
    who follow God’s law!
They are happy who do his will,
    seeking him with all their hearts.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

You have laid down your precepts
    to be obeyed with care.
May my footsteps be firm
    to obey your statutes. 

They are happy who follow God’s law!

Bless your servant and I shall live
    and obey your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
    the wonders of your law.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

Teach me the demands of your statutes
    and I will keep them to the end.
Train me to observe your law,
    to keep it with my heart.

They are happy who follow God’s law!

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 2:6-10
God predestined wisdom to be for our glory before the ages began

    We have a wisdom to offer those who have reached maturity: not a philosophy of our age, it is true, still less of the masters of our age, which are coming to their end. The hidden wisdom of God which we teach in our mysteries is the wisdom that God predestined to be for our glory before the ages began. It is a wisdom that none of the masters of this age have ever known, or they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory; we teach what scripture calls: the things that no eye has seen and no ear has heard, things beyond the mind of man, all that God has prepared for those who love him.

    These are the very things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit, for the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
1S3:9,Jn6:68

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:
you have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

Or:
Mt11:25

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father, 
Lord of heaven and earth,
for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom
to mere children.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 5:17-37
You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors; but I say this to you

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come not to abolish but to complete them. I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law until its purpose is achieved. Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

    ‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

    ‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court. But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin; and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire. So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering. Come to terms with your opponent in good time while you are still on the way to the court with him, or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

    ‘You have learnt how it was said: You must not commit adultery. But I say this to you: if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you than to have your whole body go to hell.

    ‘It has also been said: Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal. But I say this to you: everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication, makes her an adulteress; and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

    ‘Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors: You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord. But I say this to you: do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne; or by the earth, since that is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king. Do not swear by your own head either, since you cannot turn a single hair white or black. All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no; anything more than this comes from the evil one.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

 

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 12th February 2023

SIR 15:15-20; PS 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1 COR 2:6-10; MT 5:17-37 OR 5:20-22A, 27-28, 33-34A, 37

Today’s readings challenge us to reflect on the true state of our hearts as it relates to stewardship. Do we think of stewardship as something we take care of once a year, simply a matter of ticking off boxes on a commitment card — or do we choose to embrace it as a spirituality and way of life that allows us to grow in conformity to Christ every day?
 
Our first reading, from the book of Sirach, teaches that our good God has given us freedom to make this choice: “If you choose you can keep the commandments.” “Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.”

What great dignity the Father bestows on us that He does not force us to commit to Him — rather He allows us the freedom to choose Him, even though He emphatically does not want us to reject Him through selfishness and sin. (We read at the end of this passage, “No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.”)
 
Our second reading, from Corinthians, reminds us of the great joy that will be ours if we do choose to commit to God by the way we live our lives. “Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard… what God has prepared for those who love him.” Our Heavenly Father is more eager than we can comprehend to fill us with His grace and blessings.

But we must choose Him. How do we do this? By keeping His commandments as our first reading instructs — by putting the teachings of our Lord and the Church into practice every day,
 
The concept of stewardship helps us to live out the fundamental choice to put God first. Stewardship is not meant to be a mere external exercise in which we participate on an occasional basis. It is meant to be embraced as a way of life a life that involves a continuous conversion of heart.
 
In our Gospel passage from Matthew, Jesus illustrates the difference between an external observance of the law and a true conversion of heart. He says to His disciples, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” The scribes and Pharisees were the spiritual heavyweights of their day. They checked all the boxes when it came to the proper exercise of the religious practices required of them. Yet our Lord says it wasn’t enough.
 
Why? They did not allow those practices to penetrate their hearts and change them internally. Jesus explains with a further illustration saying, “You have heard that it was said… you shall not kill… But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”

Our Lord is asking us not only for exterior acts, but for a true change of heart. In stewardship terms that means seeing everything as a gift from Him, to be used for His glory and the good of others.
 
In the week ahead let us examine the state of our hearts to ask ourselves if we have chosen to allow stewardship to become a way of life for us. Only then we will experience its true depth and heart-changing possibilities. The choice is ours.

Mass Reading: Sunday - 05th February 2023

First reading
Isaiah 58:7-10
Then will your light shine like the dawn

Thus says the Lord:

Share your bread with the hungry,
and shelter the homeless poor,
clothe the man you see to be naked
and do not turn from your own kin.
Then will your light shine like the dawn
and your wound be quickly healed over.

Your integrity will go before you
and the glory of the Lord behind you.
Cry, and the Lord will answer;
call, and he will say, ‘I am here.’

If you do away with the yoke,
the clenched fist, the wicked word,
if you give your bread to the hungry,
and relief to the oppressed,
your light will rise in the darkness,
and your shadows become like noon.

The word of the Lord.

________

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 111(112):4-9

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

He is a light in the darkness for the upright:
    he is generous, merciful and just.
The good man takes pity and lends,
    he conducts his affairs with honour.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

The just man will never waver:
    he will be remembered for ever.
He has no fear of evil news;
    with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;
open-handed, he gives to the poor;
    his justice stands firm for ever.
    His head will be raised in glory.

The good man is a light in the darkness for the upright.

________

Second reading
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
The only knowledge I claimed was of the crucified Christ

When I came to you, brothers, it was not with any show of oratory or philosophy, but simply to tell you what God had guaranteed. During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

The word of the Lord.

________

Gospel Acclamation
Jn8:12

Alleluia, alleluia!

I am the light of the world, says the Lord;
anyone who follows me will have the light of life.

Alleluia!

________

Gospel
Matthew 5:13-16
Your light must shine in the sight of men

    Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, what can make it salty again? It is good for nothing, and can only be thrown out to be trampled underfoot by men.

    ‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub; they put it on the lamp-stand where it shines for everyone in the house. In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Mass Reflection: Sunday - 05th February 2023

IS 58: 7-10; PS 112:4-9; 1 COR 2:1-5; MT 5:13-16

Today’s readings are part pep talk and part marching orders for us as Christian stewards. They offer wonderfully clear guidance on what matters most to God in the way we prioritize our lives and the way He intends for us to use the gifts He has given us.
 
The first reading, from the prophet Isaiah, gives us very straightforward instructions: “Thus says the Lord: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.” The Lord gives no wiggle room here — care for our brothers and sisters in need is a “must do” for the Christian steward. Note, too, that these instructions require action — to share, to shelter, to clothe, and to hang in there with your family members, even the demanding ones. 
 
But note, too, how generous our God is to us when we do these things. “Then your light shall break forth like the dawn and your wound shall quickly be healed… Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer… Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.” Our gracious God commands us to place a high priority on serving the needs of others because He has created us for just this purpose. He knows that the more we give ourselves away, the more we will find ourselves — and “light shall rise” for us in the form of more of His grace in our lives and more of His joy and His peace in our hearts. This is the beauty of a stewardship way of life.
 
Our second reading, from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians, reassures us that we need not worry too much about our personal skill set in answering this call from the Lord to serve — for it is the Lord Himself who will act through us if we step forward in faith. Paul says of himself, and we can take his words to heart, “I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom… I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling… so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.” Our weakness is no obstacle for God — He uses even our weaknesses to show His glory if we simply cooperate with Him. This should be an encouragement for those moments when we don’t feel qualified to do all that God is calling us to do.
 
Our Gospel passage, from Matthew, sends us out on our stewardship way with a bang as Jesus declares to us, His disciples, that we are the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world.” But, He adds, salt no longer gives flavor if allowed to go stale, and light cannot bring its blessed brightness if left hidden. Therefore we must act! We must live our lives so that others will see the things that we do — the ways that we serve others, care for the vulnerable, prioritize our family relationships and, above all, our love for God — and then give Him glory. 
 
This is the stewardship way of life. Let’s give it our all!