Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

In Romans 16:3-27, Paul is praising God for all the “co-workers in Christ” who, as “good stewards of the manifold grace of God,” worked with him to serve the Church “with whatever gift” each had received. He mentions twenty-six co-workers by name (verses 3-15). And Paul’s secretary, Tertius, adds his name and three others to the four whose greeting Paul includes with his. This is the picture of a Church united in mutual respect and love. All, including Paul, are called by their first names. No titles of rank or status. No separation into levels of prestige. Just grateful recognition of the contribution each was making to the work of Christ. 

Paul ends by positioning his “gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ” within the context of God’s universal plan and all-inclusive will. Paul’s ministry is not his project to structure and carry out as he pleases. His role is stewardship: to work “according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and… according to the command of the eternal God.” This is true of all ministries in the Church. We act as stewards, managers of God’s plan, not our own. That is why we all must be accountable to God and to one another: bishops to the members of their diocese, pastors to their congregations, laity to clergy, and clergy to laity. This is stewardship. 

Initiative: Be Christ’s steward. Work for change guided by the Gospel.

— Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings, Lectionary #490, on the USCCB website here

Fr. David M. Knight (1931-2021) was a priest of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, a prolific writer, and a highly sought after confessor, spiritual director, and retreat master. He authored more than 40 books and hundreds of articles that focus primarily on lay spirituality and life-long spiritual growth.