Volunteers are pictured in a file photo serving people in need during a free dinner provided by the Emergency Assistance Department of Chicago Catholic Charities. OSV NEWS PHOTO/JIM YOUNG, REUTERS
Stewardship of time and life
BY DCN. JAY W. VANHOOSIER, OFFICE OF FAITH FORMATION
As November arrives, the Church invites us into a season of reflection. This month marks the close of the liturgical year, a moment that naturally calls us to pause and consider: How have we used the time God entrusted to us? The readings and prayers of these weeks often remind us of Christ’s coming and the urgency of living faithfully. November, with its memorials of All Saints and All Souls, deepens this reflection, turning our eyes toward eternity and encouraging us to evaluate the stewardship of our days.
Preparing spiritually for Advent
As we prepare to enter Advent, the Church’s new year, we are given the chance to reset our priorities. Advent is not just about decorations and traditions; it is a spiritual season of waiting and hope. To enter it well, we must ask: What truly matters in my daily life? Do my choices reflect my love for God and neighbor? By prayerfully examining how we spend our time – whether in prayer, family life, work, or service – we create space for Christ to come anew into our hearts.
Numbering our days wisely
Psalm 90:12 reminds us to “number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart” (RSV). This verse is not meant to burden us with fear of time slipping away but to instill gratitude and intentionality. Each day is a gift, and wisdom lies in receiving it as such. Numbering our days wisely means resisting the temptation to waste time on distractions that do not lead us closer to God. It means investing our energy in what nurtures our souls, strengthens our families, and builds up our communities.
Serving our sisters and brothers
An essential part of this stewardship is service to others. Jesus reminds us that whatever we do for the least of our sisters and brothers, we do for Him. In particular, our care for the poor, the lonely, and the marginalized reflects the way we have prioritized our time. Service is not an “extra” to fit in if we happen to have time – it is central to Christian discipleship. In giving our time and presence to those in need, we live out the wisdom of Psalm 90, using our fleeting days for what matters eternally.
Living with eternity in view
November teaches us that time is short, but life in Christ is eternal. By reflecting on our past year, adjusting our priorities, numbering our days with gratitude, and serving others with love, we are not only preparing for Advent but also for the day when Christ will come again.
Stewardship of time and life is not about doing more but about living more faithfully. May this month lead us to use our days as gifts from God, offered back in service to Him and to one another.
Dcn. Jay W. VanHoosier is the Director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Owensboro. For more information visit owensborodiocese.org/faith-formation, email [email protected] or call (270) 852-8324.
Originally printed in the November 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
