Stewardship is an invitation to open our hearts and resources to our community, as we are able.
When I was a seminarian at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, I walked past numerous homeless and hungry people on my commute to classes each week. As I was learning about theology, ethics, the Sacred’s call to justice, my heart was in dissonance. I so wanted to help, and yet I did not have resources (I was a poor student) to offer it. I decided upon a way I could help. I bought a bag of apples at the grocery store each week and carried them with me, giving them out to those asking for help.
One week, as I left, I had one apple left. It was a red delicious apple, which I do not like at all. I also had my favorite apple, a golden delicious, for my commute home. It was all I had in my bag to eat on the 2 hour commute before I could grab dinner. I was extremely hungry.
Well, you might have guessed: as I walked across the street and headed for the train a homeless man came up to me asking if I had anything I could share. I told him I had no money, but I had one more apple left and asked if he wanted it. He replied that he did. I opened my bag, reached inside and grabbed the red delicious apple. As I handed it to him, he asked if he could have the green one. I stood there looking in my bag, contemplating what I would do.
I knew what I should do: give him the green one.
I knew what I wanted to do: give him the red one and keep the green one for me.
I looked in his eyes and saw the depth of his humanity. As our eyes connected, I realized how much courage it took for him to request what he wanted. He probably never got what he wanted, and had to accept what he was given. No thought went through my brain any further; I reached into my bag and swapped the apple, giving him the green one.
As I walked away, I realized that I had just stood in the presence of the Sacred; I had just encountered Jesus: “For when I was hungry you fed me.” (Matthew 25) Reflecting 20 years later, this story moves my heart and soul as if I was standing right there giving that green apple to the homeless gentleman.
Stewardship invites us to stand in a place of responsibility for our communities, for those who need our assistance. Stewardship invites us to see the Sacred in everyone we come into contact with and allow our love for Spirit to guide us in how we connect, care, take responsibility, act within our communities.
When we are being good stewards, we live from our heart, opening ourselves to caring for those in need — “What you do for the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you do for me.” (Matthew 25)
How have you met the Sacred this week?
How have you cared for the Sacred this week?
