Homily 3 August 2003

This page was added
Aug 8, 2003

Homily 3 August 2003
By Fr. Hathaway FSSP
Mater Dei Latin Mass Community

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
On Stewardship (of the members of the body)

"The master said to the steward, 'What is this I hear of thee? give an account of thy stewardship.”’

At the end of our life, we will hear these words. Then our life will open before us as a book. Nothing will be hidden. Our guardian angel will confirm our deeds; the demons of hell will posit claims for our soul. Christ will judge our stewardship.

We are all stewards of Another’s goods. In this life, God places each person as administrator over three goods: those goods we have by nature, by fortune, and by grace. “Beloved Christians,” writes St Alphonsus Liguori, “all goods, whether of nature, of fortune, or of grace, we have all received from God. We are not the masters of these. We can not dispose of them as we please. We are but the administrators of them. We need therefore, to employ them according to the will of God, who is our Lord.” (Sermons of St. Alphonsus Liguori, TAN)

These goods have been given man for one purpose - that through them he may give God glory and save his soul. God gives every man a certain nature, a certain body and soul composite whereby he may love God, excel in certain occupations, and gain his salvation. God endows all men with a certain fortune (wealth) or station in life whereby he may use these to advance God’s glory and gain his own salvation. God has given every man certain graces and the means of grace (given through the Church) to advance him to heaven.

Now, at the end of our life, we will give an account for our stewardship for these goods.

For this reason we should often examine our conscience on the stewardship of the goods God gives us. Here, as it may be helpful, I will discuss just one aspect of the goods given us in our nature, namely, I will present an examination of conscience over the stewardship of the members of our body.

Why these? If we look at the sacrament of the sick we have one answer. In conferring the Sacrament of the sick, the priest first anoints the eyes saying, “By this holy anointing + and His most loving mercy, may the Lord forgive you whatever sins you may have committed by the use of your sight. Amen.”

Then he anoints the ears, absolving the person using the same words as above but ending, “...whatever sins you have committed by the use of your hearing. Amen.”

Then the nostrils, “...whatever sins you have committed by the use of your sense of smell. Amen.”

Then the mouth, “...whatever sins you have committed by the use of your sense of taste and the power of speech. Amen.”

Then the hands, “...whatever sins you have committed by the use of your sense of touch. Amen.”

Then the feet, “...whatever sins you have committed by the use of your power to walk. Amen.”

Now if the body is anointed like this to absolve a sick person of sin, it means the body sins through these members thereby revealing a bad stewardship of them.

Therefore, as a help in our spiritual life, it may service us to prayerfully - and often - reflect how I practice stewardship over these members of my body.

God has given me eyes to see His goodness in the world, to study the faith, to assist others in need. How has the stewardship of my eyes been? Do I use them to help me to heaven or are they taking me to hell? Am I training myself in custody of the eyes - to avoid looking at things which may pollute my mind with impure thoughts and lead me to sin? Do I moderate my TV viewing?, my computer use? Do I read good Catholic books (scripture, the catechism, lives of the saints - something to nourish my faith) or does People Magazine or other worldly literature receive more of my attention? Am I using my eyes for the purposes of gaining my salvation or simply to pass time, or to absorb myself in pleasures of the world?

God has given me ears to hear the word of God and to listen to those in need. How has the stewardship of my ears been? Do I pay attention at Mass? to the sermon? Do I pray so as to hear the voice of God in my heart? Have I used my ears to listen with compassion to someone’s sorrow? Or, have I more listened willingly to gossip and encouraged it by giving such a sign of approval? Do I listen to good Catholic music or audio tapes on the faith to increase my knowledge and love for the Faith... or do I spend more time listening to the radio, to music more worldly than of heaven? Am I using my ears to help me to heaven?

God has given me a mouth to feed myself, to bless His holy name and to tell others of His love. How has the stewardship of my mouth been? Have I eaten too much or been finicky about what I do eat? Have I thoughtlessly cursed God’s name or used it vainly? Am I trying to overcome this habit in practical ways? Do I praise the good I see my neighbor doing, or only find reasons to criticize him? Have I spoken lies or exposed the hidden faults of others? Do I complain of my hardships before invoking my God in prayer? How is my stewardship over my mouth?

Likewise, we may examine our conscience upon the use of our hands and feet. I have hands to do toilsome labor, acts of charity, lift the burdens of others. Do I neglect my chores? Do I cheat my employer in work I owe him as an employee? Have I hit anyone or treated him harshly?

I have feet to take me on errands of mercy. Do they bring me to bad places, to bad company? Am I an errand boy of the devil? Isaiah tells us, “blessed are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace.” What can I say of my feet? Am I using the hands and feet God gave me as I ought for my salvation?

At the end of our lives, each one of us will meet Christ on His throne of judgment and hear the words, “What is this I hear of thee? give an account of thy stewardship.”

When the unjust steward reduced the debts of his master’s debtors, the rich master commended him, saying, “the children of the world are more prudent in their generation than the children of the light.” He praised the unjust servant not for the evil of cheating his master; he praised him that he prepared for the future.

We can learn something from this unjust steward. If we prepare for our eternity, by frequently examining our conscience on our stewardship of all the goods given us by God, a heavenly reception is ours if we but use these goods according to His will.

Return to Main Menu Return to Homilies Index