Conclusion

Stewardship is a way of life that is truly about putting into practice the example and teaching of Jesus on being the Church of the poor, for the poor.

Let’s be clear: Jesus wasn’t poor. He had a house in Capernaum. And he must’ve ate well and drank wine, because his enemies called him a glutton and a drunkard.

Also, Jesus didn’t teach that his followers had to be poor. There were wealthy people among his followers, like Matthew, Zacchaeus, Mary of Magdala, Susanna, and Joanna.

In fact, those wealthy women help us to understand the true meaning of biblical stewardship and gospel poverty, that is, living a shared life of self-gift in service.

The Gospel of Luke records how those wealthy women shared their wealth to pay for what Jesus and his followers needed to live on (8:2-3).

And the Acts of Apostles records how the first Christians contributed to a common fund, which was doled out by the Apostles, according to each one’s need, and it is said that no one among them was in need (4:32-37).

If you want to see what that looks like today, go visit the home where a community of women or men Religious live.

We might say that they live rather well, but that’s because they live a shared life, where people give of themselves, in service of others, each other in their community. 

And that’s what people in the world could live like if we all did the same, sharing what we “own” to provide for and protect those who can’t do for themselves.

St. James says that saving faith is practiced by helping the poor, which he calls the practice of a pure, unspoiled religion (1:27)…

And St. Peter says that the love behind that can cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)…

Which, says St. Paul, can keep us holy until the day of Jesus’ return at the end of time (1 Thessalonians 3:13)…

And about that day, Jesus says that he will judge us on whether or not we helped the poor: those who do, will enjoy Heaven; those who don’t, won’t (Matthew 25).

This is what we’re to do, so that it might eventually be said of our world today what was said of the apostolic Church in Jerusalem: no one among them was in need (Acts 4:34).

When that happens – when no one among us is in need – the Kingdom will come, we will see new heavens and new earth, and Jesus will return on the clouds, in glory.

St. Peter exhorts us to hasten the day of the Lord’s coming by conducting ourselves in holiness, which for Christians means charitable service and sacrifice, shown by helping the poor (2 Peter 3:12).

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

 

This is part of a teaching document written by Archbishop Michael Jackles titled,
"How to be the Church of the Poor, for the Poor, Stewardship as a Way of Life"
which was published in August of 2021.

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