about to be terminated.’ The steward thought to himself: ‘What am I to do now? My master will surely dismiss me. I am not strong
enough to do hard work, and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I will do: I must make sure that when I am dismissed, there will be some people
to welcome me into their house.’ So he called his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first who came: ‘How much do you owe my master?’
The reply was: ‘A hundred jars of oil.’ The steward said: ‘Here is your bill. Sit down quickly and write there fifty.’ To the second he put the same
question: ‘How much do you owe?’ The answer was: ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ Then he said: ‘Take your bill and write eighty.’ The master
commended the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the people of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light.
Reflection
The astute manager can serve as a model
for us on how we should manage our affairs to
ensure our own salvation. First, he is adept in
anticipating his future needs and he provides for
it accordingly. Likewise, we need to provide for
our future needs that goes beyond this physical reality.
Secondly, we need to be tenacious. We cannot give
up to despair but struggle to make a life worthy of
heaven. No matter how the going gets rough, if we
remain steadfast, our feet will walk in ways that are
level and smooth someday. Perhaps the only thing we
must do in contrast with the dishonest steward is
to live an exemplary life because it will spare us
from the fate of the shrewd manager in today’s Gospel
reading.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2021