1 KGS 19:9A, 11-13A; PS 85:9-14; ROM 9:1-5; MT 14:22-33
Stewardship spirituality invites us to surrender control of our lives to God in grateful recognition that everything we have is a gift from Him.
Today's readings remind us that God is always in control of His creation and His people. They also reveal what can happen when we fully entrust our lives to Him — in other words, when we embrace the stewardship way of life.
In our First Reading from the First Book of Kings, the prophet Elijah is instructed to go outside and wait for the Lord. A powerful wind tears through the mountains, followed by an earthquake and then a fire. Yet the Lord is found in none of these dramatic events. Instead, God reveals Himself in "a tiny whispering sound." How fitting for our wonderfully mysterious God, who often comes to us quietly and unexpectedly. Are we attentive enough to recognize His presence and receive the guidance and gifts He continually offers us?
It is all too easy to overlook His presence in our daily lives. Taking our family, friends, work, material blessings, and even God Himself for granted is a temptation we all face. St. Paul speaks of this in today's Second Reading. He grieves that many of his fellow Israelites, despite receiving so many gifts from God — the covenants, the law, the promises, and the patriarchs — failed to recognize the gift of Christ.
The same temptation exists today. We have been entrusted with the riches of Sacred Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and the abundant grace of the sacraments, especially the gift of Christ Himself in the Eucharist. Our family, our parish, our work, and our many blessings are gifts as well. When we take our eyes off God, we lose sight of these gifts, our trust begins to weaken, and our lives no longer become a grateful response to His generosity.
Peter experiences this in today's Gospel from Matthew. Immediately after the multiplication of the loaves and fish, Jesus sends the disciples ahead of Him by boat. Later that evening, Jesus comes to them walking on the water. Peter responds, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Jesus simply says, "Come." Peter steps out of the boat and begins walking toward the Lord.
But when he notices the strong wind instead of keeping his eyes on Christ, he becomes frightened and begins to sink.
Imagine if Peter had never looked away from Jesus. What an extraordinary adventure he would have experienced walking on the water with his Lord. The same is true for us. When we take our eyes off Christ, His countless blessings, and His faithful love for us, we begin to sink as well.
But when we embrace the stewardship way of life, loosening our grip on our time, talents, and treasure and placing our trust in God, life becomes a great adventure rooted firmly in the One who never fails us.
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