I was naked, and ye clothed me. Matthew 25:36
“I know I smell offensive, but can you spare $20 for a new pair of jeans?” a young man asks early one winter morning as you leave Target on your way to work. He is clearly homeless. What do you do? What does Stewardship call you to do and why?
Perhaps this young man is “one of these least brothers of mine” that Jesus speaks of. Will the Son of Man say that He was “naked and you clothed me” or that He was “naked aneeed you gave me no clothing?” (Mt 25:31-46) Your salvation may hang in the balance.
Stewardship calls us to recognize God’s gifts and to share these gifts in the love of God and neighbor. This directive comes directly from our first Pope, St. Peter:
“Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” -1 Peter 4:8
Our current Pope, Francis, echoes our first Pope. In his General Audience on May 15, 2024,. Pope Francis teaches on the meaning of love, saying:
The Christians of antiquity had several Greek words at their disposal to define love. In the end, the word “agape” emerged, which we normally translate as “charity…”. But there is a greater love, a love which comes from God and is directed towards God, which enables us to love God, to become His friends. It enables us to love our neighbors as God loves them … it is the love for the poor…. Love is charity…. love is the “narrow gate” through which we will pass in order to enter the Kingdom of God. [1]
Add Pope Francis’ understanding of theological love, specifically for the poor, into St. Paul’s description of love from the first book of Corinthians, and we have a clear view of how to approach the scenario:
“Love [for the poor] is patient, love [for the poor] is kind. It is not jealous, love [for the poor] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love [for the poor] never fails…. So faith, hope, love [for the poor] remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love [for the poor].” -1 Cor. 13:4-13
St. Peter taught us to serve one another as good stewards. In The Parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30), Jesus teaches us that God expects us to increase the wealth God has given us. The next parable is where Jesus reminds us to clothe the naked. These ideas are connected: Be good stewards so that you are ready when Jesus shows up as “one of these least brothers of mine” (Mt 25:40). Then, when that happens, be generous, following St. Paul’s advice for the rich:
“Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.” -1 Tm. 6:18-19
William Killian – SFA Theologians Guild Member
[1]: https://www.vatican.va/https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2024/documents/20240515-udienza-generale.htmlcontent/francesco/en/audiences/2024/documents/20240515-udienza-generale.html