Greetings on this the Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Readings: Rom 15:14-21; Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4; Lk 16:1-8
Notes: An interesting juxtaposition between the reading of the Dishonest Steward and the Memorial of Saint Pope Leo the Great as the two cycles of readings intersect today.
The LORD is keeping it real. We must balance the needs of administration with the needs of the spirit and body and in the cultural context in which we live.
See AI Assist at the end of this post. Pretty cool stuff!
AI Advised Content:
Personally I struggle with people who listen to only reinforce their existing understanding. I find it very frustrating. As a board President, I lay out process and procedure clearly, the reasons and the legal and administrative purposes. Then the volunteers just do whatever they want. It is not a hard thing to do things properly. It is lazy to just do whatever you want and however you want just because you have personal autonomy. Communal living requires intelligible standards, justly applied. Like our lungs expand and contract, yes, but not blow up or vacuum out! Very hard to operate in a world where rules mean nothing unless you decide in the moment they mean something.
X-ref the last time I reflected on Luke 16:1-8 is here: http://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2021/11/05/promissory-note-restored/
Today’s gospel parable, you know the story well, the Dishonest Steward. Jesus is commending the dishonest steward who has forgone his own usurious commission on the business transaction by having the debtors write new notes that reflected only the real amount owed the master (i.e., minus the steward’s profit). From the translation commentary: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/16?1=#50016001
One then can reflect that Jesus is illustrating the path of righteousness and operating within the context of the circumstances we are finding ourselves within.
The dishonest steward is amending the relation with the debtors (fellow humans) while he cannot make the same amends with the master (the LORD), at least not in the same way. That is to say, we are obliged to make right the usury we inflict on others. As to our squandering of the master’s property, it is a much bigger debt in every dimension. His atonement is within the context of his reality.
Then we have Saint Pope Leo the Great who worked through the constant internal tension in the Church. It is in Christ’s humanity and divinity in which rests our capacity to be full of goodness. Both. Not either/or.
A practical angel: Look, this town ahead is near enough to escape to. It is only a small place. Let me flee there—is it not a small place?—to save my life.” “Well, then,” he replied, “I grant you this favor too. I will not overthrow the town you have mentioned. Hurry, escape there! I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” (Gen 19:20-22a).
Reflection from the Franciscans
At a time when there is widespread criticism of Church structures, we also hear criticism that bishops and priests—indeed, all of us—are too preoccupied with administration of temporal matters. Pope Leo is an example of a great administrator who used his talents in areas where spirit and structure are inseparably combined: doctrine, peace, and pastoral care. He avoided an “angelism” that tries to live without the body, as well as the “practicality” that deals only in externals.
Source: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-leo-the-great/
AFTER AI Advice:
First Reading
I myself am convinced about you, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to admonish one another.
Responsorial
The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
Gospel Acclamation
Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.
Gospel
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.”
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry