Luke 16:1-8

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5

Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward

who was reported to him for squandering his property.

He summoned him and said,

‘What is this I hear about you?

Prepare a full account of your stewardship,

because you can no longer be my steward.’

The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,

now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?

I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.

I know what I shall do so that,

when I am removed from the stewardship,

they may welcome me into their homes.’

He called in his master’s debtors one by one.

To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’

He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.

Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’

Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’

He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’  

He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;

write one for eighty.’

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.”

Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are my Lord. I serve no other god. There is nothing more valuable than eternal life with you. Your Kingdom is the hidden treasure I seek, the fine pearl I will purchase with all I have and am.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Parable of the Dishonest Steward: The Gospel of Luke often praises the blessings of poverty and warns us about the dangers of wealth. Today’s parable is about using and administering our earthly wealth wisely. While the steward in the parable is dishonest (untrustworthy) but prudent (streetwise), Jesus’ disciples are to be both trustworthy and prudent. The steward manifests a whole slew of vices. He squandered (mismanaged) his master’s property, was too lazy for manual labor, was too vain to beg for money, and even engaged in fraud when he falsified the accounts and reduced what his master’s debtors owed. One debtor owed a thousand gallons (one hundred measures) of olive oil. This debt was cut in half. Another owed a thousand bushels of wheat (one hundred kors), and his debt was reduced to 800. The parable implies he did the same with other debtors. The twist in the parable is that instead of the master flying into a rage because of the steward’s actions, the master commends the untrustworthy steward for his prudence.

2. Applying the Parable: The purpose of the parable is not to invite us to practice dishonesty, fraud, or “cook the books” to help ourselves. When Jesus reveals the meaning of the parable (Luke 16:9-15), he refers to how the steward was prudent to use “dishonest wealth” to be welcomed into earthly dwellings. Likewise, we are to use our earthly wealth to be welcomed into eternal dwellings. If the dishonest steward was prudent enough to plan his earthly future to receive a welcome into people’s homes, how much more ought the faithful and prudent steward of the Lord prudently plan a heavenly future to be welcomed into the Lord’s eternal dwelling (see Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 282). Jesus will teach that we cannot serve two masters: “Those who trust in wealth are in effect serving mammon as if it were a god. Faithful disciples will instead serve as good stewards of all that God has entrusted to them, generously sharing what they have with others” (Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke, 283).

3. Our Citizenship is in Heaven: In the First Reading, Paul invites the Philippians to imitate him. We are always encouraged to follow the example of the saints and avoid the bad example of the enemies of the Cross of Christ. Paul draws out a contrast between two ways of living. For the many, attaining sensible pleasure is their main focus, their god so to speak, and their minds are occupied exclusively with earthly things. By contrast, we are to recognize that we are only way-farers in this passing world and that our true citizenship is in heaven. As we live and work in this world, we are people who await the second coming (the second advent) of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In his first advent, Jesus came in humility, taught us the way to heaven, and ransomed us from slavery to sin and death. In his second advent, Jesus will come in glory and glorify our lowly bodies!

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, help me to grow in faithfulness and be a trustworthy steward of the mysteries of the Kingdom. Help me to grow in prudence as I seek to extend this Kingdom in the world around me.

Living the Word of God: How can I be more prudent in the administration of my wealth? Am I using the good things I have received from God to help the poor, advance the Kingdom of God, and create a more just society? How can I be more trustworthy?