Today I offer two meditations on Luke 16:1-8. The first focuses on the dishonest steward in today’s Gospel. The second focuses on those the steward “helped” in his time of need. As a reminder, this is a good practice; looking at the Gospel story through the eyes of the different people present. You can learn more about how to do this here.
The Dishonest and Resourceful Steward
This certainly is a confusing Gospel reading. We are introduced to a dishonest steward just as his master is firing him. Basically the master told him to clean out his desk and turn in all the accounts in his charge. The steward, concerned with where he might be living or getting his next meal, contacts all those people who owe the master money and proceeds to apparently forgive much of their debt in order to make friends with them. Here we would think that this would certainly anger the master and the master would have him beat or thrown in prison at the very least. However, much to our surprise, the master commends the steward for his prudence.
Based on what we know of other characters in scripture, and in real life for that matter, I think we can safely assume that the steward was adding his own “tax” to the master’s debtors and making a little extra cash. So, when the steward went to the debtors and “forgave” some of their debt he was probably not hurting the master but simply taking a big cut in his own take. Yet, this was a prudent thing to do since it made him look good and perhaps won him friends who would help him in his imminent time of need.
The key to this passage is the very last line – “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.” Jesus is not praising the steward for “wasting goods” nor is he praising him for stealing from the accounts. He is praising him for seeing what was really going on and then being resourceful in order to survive. In other words, Jesus is saying, “if you are wise enough to act in such a way with the things of this world that are passing, why do you not act similarly with eternal things? Why do you not look for the things that waste your time, time you could spend with Me? Why do you not rid yourself of the things in your heart that separate yourself from me? Why do you not examine your sins, what you owe, and ask my forgiveness for those debts?“
Jesus tells us elsewhere to be wise as serpents and as gentle as doves. This is exactly what this steward was doing for earthly purposes. Imagine what you and I could do for heavenly purposes if we were like this dishonest….but resourceful steward!
FROM THE SAINTS – “What zeal people put into their earthly affairs: dreaming of honors, striving for riches, bent on sensuality! Men and women, rich and poor, old and middle-aged and young and even children: all of the alike. When you and I put the same zeal into the affairs of our souls, we will have a living and working faith. And there will be no obstacle that we cannot overcome in our apostolic works.” Saint Josemaria Escriva The Way #317
The Great Debt Forgiveness Program
Imagine that you owe thousands of dollars in debt. You owe on the house, credit cards, a car or two, and student loans. For many, I don’t think I’m stretching your imagination to the breaking point. Now imagine that a representative from the institution that you owe this money to arrives at your house this morning.
This nice person begins to review your debts with you but then suddenly presents new contracts. He or she tells you that their financial institution has decided to forgive much of your debt. You sign the new contract for the home and you only owe half of what you owed moments ago. You sign a new contract and 50% of your credit cards and student loans disappear. One more contract and your car loan is reduced by 20%. If everything was legal and on the up and up, I doubt many of us would pass on this opportunity.
How would you feel about the person sitting at your kitchen table helping you sign the forms? I’d make them a cup of coffee, offer to buy them lunch, and probably give him or her a hug through tears!
What would your feelings be toward the financial institution? I’d send a thank you note or a gift basket to the president. I’d also tell all of my friends and family about this great organization that helped me so much and its generosity. I’d probably even give them the highest stamp of approval today – a like and share on Facebook.
Much has been written about the master and the steward in today’s Gospel. However, I think you and I can readily identify with one of the unnamed debtors. We wouldn’t really care too much for the back story. We wouldn’t care about the argument, the stewards wastefulness, or somewhat unseemly actions. As long as our debts were reduced, we’d love both the steward and the master!
Do you remember that feeling of having all of your debts reduced mentioned earlier? Felt good to dream didn’t it? What if they weren’t reduced but wiped away completely? What sort of high would that give you?
Now, with that feeling of freedom in mind, remember that you and I have the power to give that feeling of freedom to others. Let us tell the woman who owes a great debt for her anger that God will wipe out that debt! Let us tell our brothers in Christ who owe a great debt for their pornography addiction that God has purged that debt! Let us tell the world that the Great Debt Forgiveness Program is in effect. They need only turn to God, go to confession, and ask for the grace to incur no further debt and they to will experience the freedom.
We are stewards of God’s love and mercy; we’re the financial reps, so to speak, of the Great Bank of Mercy! Though sinners, we are “sons of light”, we are stewards of mercy. Let us lavishly give our Master’s mercy to others.
From The Saints
“Consider what depths of mercy lie in the justice of God! For, according to human justice, he who pleads guilty is punished, but in the divine court, he is pardoned. Blessed be the holy sacrament of penance!” – St. Josemaria Escriva, The Way #309
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James M. Hahn, Author 