Word to the Wise
Friday, November 6, 2009 - Friday in the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
[Romans 15:14-21 and Luke 16:1-8]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 the children of light. (Luke)
There's an expression we use often in situations where we don't like what somebody did but we admire their cleverness or at least the cleverness of the idea: "You have to give him/her/them credit!" This expression may help us to understand a parable that many folks find puzzling. It would appear that Jesus is approving outright theft, but the Master in the story does not approve the ACTION, but the PRUDENCE of the dishonest steward! This is demonstrated in either of two ways (you can pick which one you like!). The first level is by acting quickly before the debtors find out that he has been fired. He still seems to be in charge, so he can allow the debtors to reduce their contracts by the amount of his "commission." The Master doesn't lose any money and now the debtors are obligated to the steward who will need friends when it becomes known he is no longer the steward of the Master! The second way of looking at it takes the position that a "commission" isn't involved at all, but rather "honor" is. The Master doesn't dare rescind the actions of the steward because he (the Master) would lose all the "honor" he is getting for his generosity. The Steward has made the Master "look good." This was very important and still is very important in Middle Eastern social life. In either theory, the Steward is shown to be someone who knew what to do with material wealth. One of the major concerns of the Gospel of Luke is the role of wealth and possessions as a possible obstacle to discipleship. Those who have wealth should generously give alms and share that wealth so that they will be righteous disciples. Unlike our capitalistic economic world, the world of Jesus' time did not believe that "new wealth" could be created. It was believed that there was only just so much money around and those who had it were obliged to share it. Jesus commends those who wish to become disciples who use their material wealth as a means of becoming better disciples. Hence a rogue steward who wants to have a better "standing" after the shame of being fired has made sure of his future with the former debtors of the Master. You have to give him credit for his astuteness. Jesus did. AMEN
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