BIBLE STUDY
TWENTYFIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SEPTEMBER 19, 2010


Gospel Luke 16:1-13


Jesus said to his disciples,
"A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
'What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.'
The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.'
He called in his master's debtors one by one.
To the first he said,
'How much do you owe my master?'
He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.'
He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.'
Then to another the steward said, 'And you, how much do you owe?'
He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.'
The steward said to him, 'Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.'
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
"For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than are the children of light.
I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,
so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters
is also trustworthy in great ones;
and the person who is dishonest in very small matters
is also dishonest in great ones.
If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,
who will trust you with true wealth?
If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is yours?
No servant can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve both God and mammon."


The Gospel of the Lord


Reflection


Chapter 16 of Luke’s Gospel deals with the proper use of wealth. This weeks selection is Luke 16:1-13 which deals with Jesus’ fundamental teaching on the sharing of wealth. Next week (Luke 16:19-31) we will hear about those who love money and refuse to share.


Our Gospel this week is titled “The Parable of the Dishonest Steward”, in which a steward was fired for squandering his master’s property and not for any kind of graft.

The steward becomes concerned with his financial future, as we all would under the circumstances. He considers his options, and does a bit of what we would call today ‘social networking’. Today, we would probably send our resume to people we know, to companies advertising available jobs, and we would check online sites to make job connections.


Before I entered the seminary I worked in Human Resources for a company in Parsippany. A young man applied for a job, and with his resume he sent in a tape extolling his many qualities, complete with a dramatic voice and background music! We all enjoyed the tape and had a few laughs over it. However, it didn’t work: he never got the job. He’s probably a CEO somewhere now. He did get our attention, though. This is a case where shrewdness, however, didn’t work.


We need to understand this parable in light of the custom of that time of how an agent in the employ of a master would act and the usurious practices they would use. The master would hire an agent, called a steward in this parable, to collect his debts. The steward would add a commission on top of the bill that would be usurious in nature. This steward took the promissory notes and reduced them by the amount of his commission, to the actual amount owed to his master. He does in the hopes that one of the debtors will welcome him into his home. And, as the gospel says, “And the master commended the dishonest steward for acting prudently.”


At first glance it may seem that the gospel is commending dishonesty, but it is actually commending shrewdness, and the fact that Jesus disciples do not measure up in some way that is associated with the steward.


There must have been something going on in Luke’s community that he is trying to address. It seems that the people in his community are not sharing what they have with those in need. It seems that they are irresponsible in handling money. This steward, however, shows himself to be shrewd with things of this world, specifically money. He is using it to his advantage and to help others.


Jesus is urging his disciples to be like the steward in the proper use of money, namely, to share it with those in need. This is a requirement to enter God’s eternal kingdom. If we are faithful in handling “unrighteous mammon” as it is called, then we will be faithful in handling greater things. In other words, if we fail to help others, we will not receive true riches in heaven. Failing to share wealth means we serve “mammon” and not God. To serve God means to share wealth.


Notice that Jesus says to share the wealth, not to be penniless. We don’t have to end up destitute to serve God; just sharing some of what we have is good enough.


I also think that shrewdness encompasses making and accumulating money. Some people just have a talent for this, whether in investments, or in sales, or in starting a business, or in any enterprise where one can make money. We should never feel guilty for this because God gave us this talent and we should use it. Stephen King has written many books and is very rich; however, after growing up poor in Maine, her has given away one third of everything he has made to help those in need. Many people have benefited by his generosity. He is showing himself to be faithful in little things. Using the gifts and talents God gave us gives glory to God. Being stingy is only serving ourselves.


I have always believed that there are no true atheists in the world, because there is always someone or something we love the most. Whatever comes first in our lives is our god. It can be ourselves, another person, making money, careers, or, hopefully, God.


These things are not mutually exclusive. We can love these people and these things and still love God; it is a matter of priorities. If God comes first, our lives are ordered differently than if something or someone else came first. God informs us how we are to treat all these things and it can be very different than the way we would do things.


Some people give grudgingly, and only if they get something in return, like a tax deduction. I think it was G.K. Chesterton who said something like, “Christian charity is neither Christian nor charitable if it only comes out of our surplus.”


The problem is, the more we make, the more we buy, and the more we think we need. We could all do with a lot less and still be comfortable. We could all downsize and contribute more to charity. Like the bumper sticker says, “Live simply so others may simply live”.


Americans are the most generous people ever, but I ask you to stop and think about the last time you donated to charity. When was it? How much? When is the last time you increased the amount and/or the frequency of your contributions? Have you ever given without expecting anything in return?


Here’s something to think about: if every Catholic in America gave $1.00 extra per week to charity, there would be an additional $3 billion dollars per year to help those in need. I think most of us can afford that.


We here at St. Joseph’s Church believe in the spirit of charity to those who come to us in need. We try to give something to everyone who comes to the door asking for help. We can’t solve their financial problems or pay all their bills, but we can help a little. For example, we have helped people pay their mortgages, rent, medical bills, prescription drug bills, legal fees, utility bills, and we have given tens of thousands of dollars in ShopRite gift cards in my tenure. However, I won’t give to those who are greedy or to those I think are ripping me off. Nor do we give out cash. I tell people that I can only give them a little because we need to save something for everyone.


We believe that we get back more than we give. God won’t be outdone in generosity and we will be repaid 30 or 60 or 100 fold. This is one reason why I think our bills are paid, we have a little bit of money saved up, and we don’t need to do second collections for ourselves. We try to help and are being repaid by God for this. We get back more than we give – not just financially, but in faith. God will do the same for you.


While we need to help, there are plenty of scams out there and people who have no conscience and will take you for all you are worth. People will try to prey on your good nature and kind heart. They will come up with all kinds of sad stories to get you to give them money. Please don’t let people take you. If you want to donate to charity, there are plenty of legitimate charities out there that need you help. This is being shrewd and being good with money, like the steward in the gospel.


Sometimes a legitimate charity will include a gift in their letter requesting financial assistance. This is to make you feel guilty and send a donation. Many people will feel obligated – I got a gift, I should reciprocate. Please don’t feel obligated. I have gotten many pens that way and it doesn’t bother me in the least.


Once you donate to a charity, some of them will keep on sending you solicitations for money. The more times you give, the more solicitations you receive. As long as you keep giving, they will keep soliciting. Don’t feel guilty about not giving. Give what you can and don’t feel that it is necessary to give every time they ask.


I suggest that you pick 2 or 3 charities (or more if you can afford it) and donate to them on a regular basis.


In my wedding homily, I always talk about not letting the cares and demands of marriage, careers, and family responsibilities overwhelm them and become their top priority. I ask them to remember why they married in the first place – because they love each other. It is love that will make all the sacrifices seem worthwhile. It is love in the biblical sense – what we do for each other – that will bond them together to a point where there is no one or nothing that can break that bond. I think this is possible in every marriage.


It is serving others and giving to those in need, along with prayer and sacraments, that will help solidify our relationship with God to the point where no one or nothing can break that bond. I think this is possible for all of us.


Be good stewards. The donation of your time, talent, and treasure for the love of God will give you peace and meaning in this life and eternal life in the next.



Fr. Phil