Friday, November 7, 2025 - Friday in the 31th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 15:14-21 and Luke 16:1-8]
"For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light." [Luke]
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2025 [ALL SAINTS OF THE ORDER OF PREACHERS - Dominicans]
There is an old expression that I think captures the meaning of the parable in today's gospel about the Dishonest Steward: "Give the devil his due!" The point of the parable is to tell "the children of light" to use what they have been given to secure their ultimate future. Although the Dishonest Steward was clearly wrong in embezzling, he was clever enough, when threatened with loss of his job, to see that he would be OK when that happened. The debtors had no way of knowing that he was going to be fired, so they thought he was acting on behalf of his boss. They all thought it was his boss that was being generous. Although he lost his "hidden commission" he made his boss and himself look good. The boss had to "grin and bear it" because his "honor" and good reputation would be very important.
The parable should be read alongside the one of the Rich Man and Lazarus [16:19-31] and the one of the Rich Fool [12:13-21]. All three are found only in the Gospel According to Luke and reinforce the constant theme of generosity and sharing with others as well as the dangers of wealth. If a Dishonest Steward had enough sense to provide for his material future, surely the "children of light" could do better than that! AMEN
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