Gospel: Luke 16:1-8
At another time Jesus told his disciples, “There was a rich man, whose steward was reported to him because of fraudulent service. He summoned the steward and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? I want you to render an account of your service, for it is 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 people who will welcome me into their homes.’
So he called his master’s debtors, one by one. He asked the first debtor, ‘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 fifty.’
To the second debtor he put the same question, ‘How much do you owe?’
The answer was, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ Then the steward 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
At first glance, it might seem strange that Jesus wants his disciples to imitate what the steward has done. The steward let go of his commission to favor those debtors and secure his future. What
was commended was the steward's astuteness and foresight. Jesus wants his disciples to learn such astuteness and foresight because the disciples of Jesus are not mere citizens of this world but of heaven, as the first reading tells us. When we are too engrossed and preoccupied with the present, it is good to step back and be reminded that there is so much more than where we find ourselves at this time. We are promised God’s kingdom, which is far greater and better than what we have, where we share in the glory of our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
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