Stewardship and Tsunamis
Being from Kansas, I have never experienced a tsunami, and once posed a basic question: What is the difference between a tsunami and a hurricane? A hurricane is a weather system that develops over time and can be tracked. A tsunami, by contrast, is triggered by sudden events beneath the ocean floor. As such, it is far harder to anticipate, and preparation is severely limited.
A particularly striking characteristic common to tsunamis is that the water usually recedes before it rises, revealing things normally hidden underwater. What at first may seem like a fascinating opportunity to approach the shore, however, is actually a sign that something larger may be unfolding.
A well-known story recounts a young girl who detected the receding waters’ signal and warned her village. Those who listened moved to safety. Although no one can stop a tsunami from reaching the shore, people can remain attentive, prepare themselves, and be ready to care for one another afterward.
My point?
Some have used this image to describe the pace of technological change in our time. Artificial intelligence and advances in robotics represent powerful tools that are already reshaping daily life. Many people are experiencing genuinely helpful and even exciting benefits, and these early advantages naturally draw interest and engagement.
At the same time, like the possible implications of receding waters, these early benefits invite thoughtful reflection. They should not distract us from considering how such technologies may continue to shape work, relationships, and community life over time. Our aim is not fear, but prudence.
Recent history offers a helpful lens. Events such as the 2008 financial crisis or the social disruptions caused by COVID lockdowns remind us that large-scale change often yields consequences that take time to understand. Those experiences invite us to ask what lessons we can carry forward in the face of newer transformations.
My reflection as vicar for evangelization, discipleship, and stewardship raises a pastoral question: If artificial intelligence continues to shape society in ways both positive and challenging, how can we prepare ourselves to respond thoughtfully, humanely, and faithfully?
Among many possible responses, one stands out clearly. As Catholic stewards, we are called to do what St. Paul urges in Galatians 6:2: “carry one another’s burdens.”
The reality is that new technologies will touch nearly every sector of society. For some, they will open new opportunities. For others, they may mean uncertainty or difficult transitions. In those moments, the question is whether we, as a Christian community, will be ready to accompany one another with patience, listening hearts, and practical care.
Like any major period of change, the full scope of these developments cannot be known in advance. What can be known is how we choose to respond. We can prepare ourselves with intelligence rooted in reason and charity rooted in the Gospel.
A parish’s Stewardship Way of Life offers a concrete path forward. Stewardship forms communities attentive to real human needs and are ready to respond when those needs arise, whether they are spiritual, emotional, personal, or material. It teaches us to see one another not as isolated individuals, but as members of one body.
This is no argument for alarmism. Technological progress often brings real benefits and efficiencies. History shows, however, that times of advancement are also times of adjustment, and those transitions test the strength of community and compassion.
The question before us, then, is not whether change will occur, but whether we will meet it well, with generosity of heart, confidence in the Gospel, and a shared commitment to carry one another forward in faith.