Where Is the Evidence?

The US Bishops’ pastoral letter, “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,” sees a life of stewardship as the fruit that comes from an authentic life with Jesus. Faith in Jesus is the minimum requirement that begins this journey from discipleship to stewardship living. There are those who believe in Jesus but do not know him. It becomes very hard to contemplate responding to the call of someone you do not know.

The last sentence of Luke 18:8 should give a reason to pause and reflect. Jesus says to his disciples, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on Earth?” We can easily respond affirmatively to the question, but if we want to look at the Earth ourselves without being able to see into people’s hearts, where is the evidence of the faith that Jesus seeks? When we look at our world, do we see evidence of large amounts of faithful people living in a way that faith would lead them to live?

Our stewardship way of life is evidence of our faith. It is hard to argue that one truly has faith if they do not seek to live as Jesus calls us. An unfortunate cycle is then created when those who not believe do not see any reason to have faith. Our stewardship is not only evidence, but it is our testimony and witness to faith. If Jesus returned today, what would he see? Where is your evidence? Has your witness brought others to him?

— Tracy Earl Welliver