Stewardship Reflection

Throughout our readings today, we see the amazing truth that the Holy Spirit gives us gifts and guidance in a very personal way. We are meant to use these gifts to build up the Body of Christ in a way that is unique to each one of us. 

Our first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, recalls the dramatic moment when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the apostles. “Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”

Notice how personal and individual is this outpouring of the Spirit. This personalized way of “gifting” the apostles allowed them each to reach different people, sharing with them the “mighty acts of God.” Embracing the stewardship way of life means that we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the best use of the unique gifts He has given to each of us, to accomplish the particular mission entrusted to us.

Jesus gives us this mission in our Gospel passage from John. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” But we must not let this responsibility overwhelm us. Jesus Himself, tells us so — “Peace be with you.”

As this Easter season comes to a close, let us be at peace. And let us resolve to lean on the Holy Spirit more and more as our guide through the stewardship way of life.

— Stewardship Reflections by Catholic Stewardship Consultants

Today, we celebrate the great feast of the Ascension of our Lord, that glorious moment when Jesus, 40 days after His resurrection, was lifted up — quite literally— into heaven, as the apostles watched in stunned amazement. It is recounted in both our first reading, from Acts, as well as the Gospel passage, from Matthew. It must have been an extraordinary thing to witness.

But the first reading tells us that the apostles were not permitted to simply bask in the moment for very long. “While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going, suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, 'Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?'” 

In other words, “Don’t just stand there, do something!”

This verse is a call to each one of us Christian stewards this very day. We have been given every grace and blessing through the Mass and all of the sacraments, through the Word of God, the rich teachings of our faith, and even our talents and our material possessions.

And like those first apostles, we are not meant to just stand here, but to do something with these gifts — in love and gratitude to the One Who gave them to us. We are called, just as much as the first apostles “to be [His] witnesses… to the ends of the earth,” not with our own power, but through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. 

— Stewardship Reflections by Catholic Stewardship Consultants