How to Be a Steward

Which is better, being an owner or a steward? Fr. Mike reminds us of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) as he points out how seeing ourselves as an owner is not as great as it seems. When we see ourselves as the owner of something, we hold onto it more closely for fear of losing it. When that thing is taken from us, we may become resentful.

Our lives are not our own, our bodies are not our own, our homes are not our own. Not even our children are ours. God owns all of these things, and we have done nothing to deserve them. God has entrusted them to us. If we see everything we have as a gift from God, we will always have a reason to be thankful.

In our culture, we may have been conditioned to think being owners is the American Dream, but being a steward is much better.
Which is better, being an owner or a steward? Fr. Mike reminds us of the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) as he points out how seeing ourselves as an owner is not as great as it seems. When we see ourselves as the owner of something, we hold onto it more closely for fear of losing it. When that thing is taken from us, we may become resentful.

Our lives are not our own, our bodies are not our own, our homes are not our own. Not even our children are ours. God owns all of these things, and we have done nothing to deserve them. God has entrusted them to us. If we see everything we have as a gift from God, we will always have a reason to be thankful.

In our culture, we may have been conditioned to think being owners is the American Dream, but being a steward is much better.

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[macmedic]

Praying for the family spending the holidays without their son.

[barbaragontarek]

Father Mike, as usual, you hit the nail on the head — for me. You spoke of someone who lost their son, and that the parents said that he was a gift. I have recently lost my hubby and my beautiful daughter, all within a very short time. Wallowing in grief has been my thing to do. Despite praying for relief, i have found little. Your approach of “gifts from God”, works. God gave me these people for a time. Then i had to return them to Him. You have shown me the other side of the tapestry. I like it! Thank you. (Taking deep, slow breaths of gratitude)

[jovissi]

This is a new way of looking at things whoa

[scygnius]

The part that got to me the most was when Fr. Mike said to not be resentful when losing something, no matter how important, because it was never yours in the first place.

[joyyoung]

The Lord gives, The Lord takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord!

[wolaboga]

Fr. Mike, bless your heart! Usually I never comment on YouTube, but this time I felt like I needed to say thank you from all of my heart for this video. I was just about to pray before bed time and I have had this thought I need to listen to just one ascension presents clip, and here you are uploading this video three minutes ago and I felt like God just spoke to me through you. ... thank you sooo much for sharing such a wise point of view ♥️ Pax et bonum and I’m taking all what you said with me to pray about it🙏🏻

[sarahhui]

Hi Father Mike, thank you for this lesson. I will try to not forget it. It strikes a big chord within me because I waste a lot of time every day. God bless you!

[ianmackenzie]

Heavy duty truth is the most liberating.

[extraemails]

I really needed to hear this. Thank you. I have been stressing about a huge life decision because I don’t want to go to college but my parents want me to. This helps me remember that no matter which way I go if I use the time and energy that God has given me, in a way that God wants me to, I will have succeeded in life.

[jaysonyata]

We are blessed to have Fathers and priests explain to us the narrow way home.

[kt]

Albert Einstein there’s two ways to look at the world. One as if nothing’s a miracle, or as if everything’s is an miracle.

[felixjune]

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I shall return.” God does not owe me a single breath. God bless all people who suffer immense losses in their lives. It is not easy but my admirations to those who are able to overcome such tragedies. My prayers are with you. God bless. Thank you Father Mike 🙏🏽

[imaliveu]

I noticed with the people that love the material things of this world have great difficulty letting these things go. When they die they can't take these things with them which brings to them terrible suffering even in death.

All things belong to God the Creator even our very lives belongs to Him. He's our judge and it's only Him that decides our eternal fate, once we die the matter is out of our hands.

Store up not the wealth of this world rather store up the treasures which you will reap of in Heaven.

[wille]

Our family recently was called to the church. We were a little bit of everything before that. It's men like you that had us feeling at home and in the right place. Thank you father.

[leonlawre]

The lord giveth and the lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the lord. I to lost a son 2 days after his 8th birthday. I am so great full for the time I had with him. He is in a better place now which I am looking forward to going to through fear and trembling.

[loella_]

Thank you always Father Mike. Thank you, thank you. From Spain God bless you

[totustuus]

Please pray for the people in Albania🙏🏻 there was a heavy earthquake last night, a lot of dead people.😔

I‘m sorry for my bad english.

[marvinmansueto]

"It wasnt mine to begin with".
The boldest phrase in my opinion in all the post. True. So I have only to be grateful.
Thank you fr. Mike, what a great clip.

[robinyuan]

wow. just wow. Thank you Fr. Mike. So it has been a few years now since my grandfather passed away. It has always been a thorn in my heart. A part of me always wondered why did God do this, why at that time, why, why, why. I guess I've hidden that pain away and pretended that it didn't exist. Thank you Lord for the gift of my grandfather and all the time I got to spend with him...

[ucheuju]

Spot on Padre. May God grant that family the fortitude to bear this most unfortunate loss of their son.