The scripture readings for the Friday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110819.cfm
“And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light." Luke 16:8
In our gospel for today it sounds as if Our Lord is praising the dishonest steward for doing things that are dishonest and selfish. In the parable, we see someone that is self-centered and only worried about himself and trying to protect his way of life. He was first stealing from his master, and then when he discovered that he was to be let go, he further cheated his master out the profits due to him from those the steward dealt with.
What our Lord is really teaching us is that we can learn from the dishonest steward in how to conduct our affairs with God. The steward was prudent in the sense that he knew how to protect himself and to obtain a secure position once his master fires him.
We are to be prudent in our relationship with God in the same way he was with his master and with those he dealt with, but for godly reasons. This is to help us gain something far better than material wealth. We are to be prudent with God in order to gain heaven.
The ways we can be prudent with God is to first develop a deeper prayer life with Him. In addition to daily mass and the rosary, we should make time to read Holy Scripture in order to be open what God is trying to communicate to us. The best way to do this is by studying the scripture readings assigned for daily mass. By spending about 10 or 15 minutes daily reading the scriptures from Mass, we are allowing ourselves to be open to the voice of God and what he may wishing to tell us.
In addition to prayer and meditation, we are to take our faith in Jesus to others in our life: our family, friends and those we encounter daily. Like St. Paul in our first reading, we are to be a minister of Christ Jesus to all people we know and meet.
We can show them love and kindness, even to those we really don’t like. By showing love and kindness to those we truly don’t like, we are bringing the love of God to them. That is being a good and prudent steward of the love that God gives to us daily.
Whatever challenges you may face, know that Jesus will help you to respond with love. He loves those in your life as much as he loves you.
Lord Jesus, help us to see you in all people that we meet this day. Amen
Thank you. I have always found this a difficult parable to understand. I know the LORD was not condoning dishonesty but was commending being "enterprising". One priest has suggested that what the steward had deducted from his master's bill was not money actually owed to his master but his own commission, which might be accurate.
ReplyDeleteBut what JESUS meant in teaching this parable, as I understand your explanation, is that we should be as prudent & diligent to use spiritual means at our disposal to grow in our relationship with God & in holiness as the wicked steward was to use the means at his disposal to secure his financial future.
That's exactly right, Arlene. We are to be prudent and diligent in our relationship with God if we are to hope to get closer to God and to attain that goal of heaven.
ReplyDeleteFrom my friend Nilda:
ReplyDeleteDear Tom,
I agree wholeheartedly with your interpretation of the gospel reading.
The Lord is giving us the message that we, as true faithful of God, should be as prudent as the dishonest steward in our lives, by ensuring our entrance into the kingdom of God, when we come into our Judgment Day.
God have mercy on us and give us the wisdom to practice the ways that will bring us to life ever after, when you call us at the hour of our death. Amen
Yours in Christ and Carmel, Nilda V., OCDS