Aguinaldo 2022 Day 1

Stewardship as a Gift

WORD

Isaiah 56:1 -3, 6-8

Psalm 67:2-3,5,7-8

John 5:33-36

“When the messengers of John the Baptist had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out to the desert to see a reed swayed by the wind? Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine garments? Those who dress luxuriously and live sumptuously are found in royal palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.”

- From the Gospel

OBSERVE

1. Authentic prophets are “signs of contradictions” to the prevailing culture of the world. Unlike the false prophets who would preach according to what the world wants to hear, the real prophets would always stand for what they have heard from God.

2. The words of Jesus addressed to the crowd confronted them to re-think their expectations and biases on who John is. It is an invitation to go out of their preconceived ideas, their comfort zones and their own preferences. It is to draw them out of their idea that prophets are those who performs spectacular things.

3. Prophecy or, better still, to testify to our faith is a gift that God extends to those who become prophets and those who listen to them. It is not an easy task. In fact, it is difficult, uncomfortable and would even demand “dying” to some extent.

4. This gift of testifying leads us to examine ourselves and our priorities. It is asking us to re-discover who we are and what we truly value in this life.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father,

You have sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord.

John testified to the light by his own life of simplicity and authenticity.

In a world, which seeks for the truth among those who are in power and wealth,

Remind us that our works speak louder than our words.

As Christians, help us with your grace to open our hearts to receive your gift

which is to be the light and salt of the world.

DISCERN

1. Stewardship has been the call of the times. It has been discerned and promoted as our present-day response to the world which measure success in terms of promotions and wealth.

2. Stewardship is not merely about proper management of resources or financial transparency.

Stewardship invites us both the clergy and the laity to reflect on who we are as the present-day disciples of Jesus. It is about identity.

3. Stewardship would only be meaningful if we are clear of who we are in relation to the graces that God has given us.

4. For the clergy, we are reminded that in both spiritual and temporal matters, what we have freely received should also be freely given. We are steward-disciples whose master is Jesus who did not lord it over but served.

5. For the laity, it is a call to participate in improving our communities by the unique gifts they have receive. It is to become active participants in the life of the parish and the diocese,

Not merely as followers or functionaries but as steward-disciples whose baptismal dignity confers on them the responsibility of serving, teaching and testifying in their respective families and communities.