Greetings on this the Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Philippians 3:17—4:1; Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5; Luke 16:1-8
Summary
In the future [world] a person will have to give account for everything his eye saw yet he did not eat.
- Jerusalem Talmud (Yerushalmi Kiddushin 4:12) (see: https://www.yeshiva.co/midrash/6867)
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.’ (Lk 16:2).
The Parable of the Dishonest Steward is a story of a person, who having before him the authority, access and compensation to perform a honorable task of managing the rich man’s property. On reflection we can say the steward had the ultimate job. A wonderful job full of benefit and agency.
He squandered the gift.
Then, when crisis came, he finally became attentive to consequence.
Jesus isn’t endorsing the action (falsifying the receipts). He is endorsing the awareness of the need to change. A positive baby step.
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 (Lk 16:3-4).
Reflection
For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” (Phil 3:18-19a)
Personal Reflection
Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord (Ps 122:1).
We need a reorientation to the good things the Lord has given us which would help us avoid the misapplication of the good or the perceived need to enter into Advantage, Acquisition and Alliance as our ‘good’. A life of rejoicing and awareness of the good the Lord has done will help us keep our job.
You are breathing today.
Don’t squander it.
Sacred Readings full text: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110626.cfm
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry