Gospel Reflection - 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C

Luke 16:1-13

Oftentimes, when we fall into some sort of trouble, we don’t seek atonement so much as a means to lessen the penalty or, if possible, to escape blame altogether.  When we foresee a punishment, we instinctively want to avoid it, for it serves as a painful reminder of our failing.  This is exactly how the steward acted.  He had squandered his master's property, and knew his reputation would be ruined.  Who would hire him now? 

Being shrewd, the steward worked around this.  By granting debt reductions to his master’s debtors, he placed himself in their favor.  He now had a safeguard; he had people to fall back on when his punishment was enforced.

We will draw two lessons from this (though I am sure there are many more to be found here).  First, we should not follow the steward’s example.  Here on earth, we are stewards of the Divine Master.  All that we have has been entrusted to us by God, and we must be faithful stewards in carrying out His work; nothing is ours to squander.  We must remember this when we are tempted to be selfish and greedy, when we withhold a kind word or action, or when we mistreat others.

The second lesson, however, is that we should follow the steward’s example.  What did the steward do? He assured a place for himself, when he knew he was lost to his master.  Through original sin and sinful deeds thereafter, we are all lost to our Master.  But our Master, we know, is a kind and loving one.  Through heartfelt prayer, practice of virtue, reception of the Sacraments, we assure a place at our Father’s table.  With remorse for our sinfulness, we should walk forward, with our hearts set on the future which is eternity. “And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.”

Do you see yourself as God’s steward in your daily life? 

We “cannot serve both God and mammon,” so how can you strengthen your faithfulness to the Divine Master?