BUHAY KATIWALA

What is Spirituality of Stewardship or Daan ng Pagpapabanal sa buhay Katiwala?

Spirituality of Stewardship is a way of life chosen by a person who decided to follow the way of Christ. It's a disciple's response! A response to Jesus' invitation to the young rich man mentioned in the Gospel (cf. Mt. 19: 16-30).

This way of life is also a way of discipleship! Why? Because: a) Mature disciples make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter what the cost; b) Christian disciples experience conversion - life-shaping changes of mind and heart - and commit their very selves to the Lord; c) Christian stewards respond in a particular way to the call to be a disciple. Stewardship has the power to shape and mold our understanding of our lives and the way in which we live; and d) Jesus' disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. They are grateful for the gifts they received and are eager to use them to show the love for God and for one another.

Spirituality of Stewardship will lead a disciple to a deeper realization that she/he is:
a) a God’s creature with a mission (true to her/his identity as a child of God);
b) being lead to reverence and awe: an attitude of profound respect – seeing God in all and all in God;
c) expressing a sign of gratitude to God;
d) called to trust God;
e) called to love God above all things, as part of the dynamics of love.

Two important signposts of Spirituality of Stewardship or Buhay Katiwala:

1) Our Connectedness to the Father. A good steward has a "puso sa pusong ugnayan" with the source of all life. We are connected because we are made in the image of God and responsible for all of creation - this is our common heritage and identity. As a an image of God and Steward of Creation "kawangis ng Diyos at katiwala", our lives vibrate with the 4 core values of a) identity as image of God (kawangis ng Panginoon); b) sense of gratitude (may utang na loob, marunong magpasalamat); c) sense of trust (may pagtitiwala at mapagkakatiwalaan) and sacrificial love (may malasakit sa kapwa at kalikasan, may pag-ibig na mapagpalaya). A good steward has a "puso sa pusong ugnayan sa Diyos", a person who honors and nurtures this realtionship by receiving all of God;s gifts gratefully, and shares these gifts out of justice and love to all, esp. the poorest of the poor!

2) Our Life is ready to be poured out for the Kingdom. A good steward heeds Jesus' call to build the Kingdom of God which is "a new heaven and a new earth" marked by justice, peace and integrity of creation. This Kingdom-building is more than just a call to a new inner more pious life, but also a demand to transform the world. This Kingdom that a good steward is called to pour his/her life is not the kingdom in the next life, it is the kingdom "here and now", the kingdom here on earth, the earth we live in, "ang pangarap nating langit dito sa lupa".

Buhay Katiwala is therefore characterized by a VIBRANT PERSONAL FAITH or EXPERIENCE OF JESUS EXPRESSED IN RADICAL LOVE FOR GOD AND NIEGHBORS - ESP. THE POOREST AMONG THE POOR - THAT TRANSFORMS HUMAN PERSONS, COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD!