God's Stewards

Homily for Friday of the Twenty--second Week in Ordinary Time

Paul speaks today of the quiet dignity of being a steward of God’s mysteries. A steward is not the owner; a steward is entrusted with something precious. Paul invites us to see our lives, our faith, and our vocations in this way. We carry the Gospel not as a possession but as a gift—something entrusted to us so that we may share it with sincerity and care. God looks not for perfection but for faithfulness.

The psalm deepens this sense of trust. “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.” These words describe a heart that rests in God’s goodness. They remind us that our path unfolds under God’s steady guidance. When we entrust our lives to the Lord, our steps become lighter, our choices clearer, and our hearts more peaceful.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of new wine and new wineskins. He is inviting us to openness to grace, to change, and openness to the newness God desires to bring into our lives. The Gospel is not a burden; it is a living reality that grows, expands, and renews. To welcome this newness, our hearts must remain flexible, ready to receive what God offers.

Paul reminds us that we are stewards, a role that is extremely important as we celebrate the Season of Creation. As stewards we are called to trust in God’s guidance. It is that trust that can make us good stewards. Jesus calls us to openness and newness. As stewards of creation, we must be open to new ways of doing things.

Today we remember St. Rose of Viterbo, a young Franciscan tertiary whose life reflects openness beautifully. Rose lived with a heart awakened to God’s presence. Her simplicity, her courage, and her love for the poor revealed a spirit ready for the new wine of the Gospel. She trusted God’s guidance, spoke God’s truth with clarity, and allowed grace to shape her life from within. Rose shows us that holiness is not a matter of age or status; it is the fruit of a heart open to God. Her openness teaches us a valuable lesson about a life of holiness.

May our hearts remain open to God’s fresh work, may our lives reflect the trust the psalm describes, and may we serve the Gospel with the quiet faithfulness Paul invites.