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Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Ann Rock

Today's Gospel: Luke 16:1-8

 

At first glance today’s reading, known as the Parable of the Dishonest Steward, appears to reward the steward’s misuse of his master’s property. This puzzling parable is an occasion where we might have to do a little digging to see what’s really going on. It’s also a great opportunity to use one of my favorite Bible resources, the footnotes in the New American Bible which is the translation approved for use at the Mass.

So I scrolled down to the bottom (no, I’m not reading the Bible on a scroll, I’m old but not that old....I’m using the on line version from the USCCB) and found that a steward would act as his master’s agent in collecting debts. In Biblical times, these agents were known for charging usurious fees onto what was owed the master. Basically they were first-century loan sharks. It’s interesting to me that there are numerous Old Testament references forbidding usury, but it was an “accepted” practice anyway. In this case, it appears not only was the steward ripping the debtors off with his exorbitant fees, but he was also wasting his master’s actual assets.

With disaster approaching, the steward seeks to curry favor with the debtors by waving his fee. He hopes to then have allies when he’s ruined. Fortunately the master finds his behavior prudent. While the parable doesn’t say so, it seems the steward may have saved his job by his sacrifice.

Since I doubt any of us are loan sharks, what lesson can we glean from this story? I think we are called to be stewards of our resources, whether it be financial, environmental or even spiritual. To me the lesson seems to be encouraging responsible use of assets, particularly in a time of crisis. The advice your mother gave you about saving for a rainy day is actually quite sound. I also see an aspect of forgiveness in this story. The steward literally forgives the debt owed him. His master appears to forgive him once he’s righted the wrongs he committed. Finally, the steward practices repentance and reparation by forgoing his fee, making his master whole and the debtors his friends.

While my first impression of this parable feels contradictory to Jesus’s teachings, on further reflection I see it as a story of redemption when we are willing to humble ourselves and correct our misdeeds, as well as a call to responsibly manage our resources.

 

Ponder:


Am I a prudent steward of the resources I’m blessed with?

 

Pray:


Dear Lord, please help me to appreciate and prudently use the resources You have blessed me with.


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Copyright 2021 Ann Rock

Ann Rock is the mother of an adult son and a wife of 35 years. She enjoys facilitating Bible study and working on a team for mother’s retreats.