I have always been perplexed by Today’s Gospel reading. If the Master in the Gospel refers to the Lord our God, then why would He praise the astuteness of a ‘cunning’ Steward? It does make it any easier when we cannot fully grasp the actual meaning behind the words used due to translation. Hence was the Steward really dishonest? Or was he lazy or simply did not care enough to be meticulous in the handling of his master’s property?
Upon deep personal reflection, the message I get from our Lord is a prompting to ask myself; how faithful a Steward have I been for Him? If I were faithful then by my love for Him had I taken extra care so as not to mismanage what He has entrusted me with? If I can be fearful about losing my job at the office and so give my best, then am I doing likewise and more for my Lord? How have I used the spiritual gifts He had bestowed upon me and entrusted me with to build His Kingdom? How many souls have I won back for Him through through my zeal of love for Him and my brethren? How many more have I led to greater holiness by my own example?
Lord I embrace my cross with a deep desire to faithfully follow after You. Transfigure me my sweet Saviour, that all I say and do will ever be pleasing to You my God. Amen
First reading
Philippians 3:17-4:1 ·
Our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes Christ to transfigure us
My brothers, be united in following my rule of life. Take as your models everybody who is already doing this and study them as you used to study us. I have told you often, and I repeat it today with tears, there are many who are behaving as the enemies of the cross of Christ. They are destined to be lost. They make foods into their god and they are proudest of something they ought to think shameful; the things they think important are earthly things. For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.
So then, my brothers and dear friends, do not give way but remain faithful in the Lord. I miss you very much, dear friends; you are my joy and my crown.
Gospel
Luke 16:1-8
The master praised the dishonest servant
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.”
Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.” To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty.”
‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’
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