Word to the Wise
Friday, November 6, 2015 - Friday in the 31th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 15:14-21 and Luke 16:1-8]FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 ST. ALPHONSUS NAVARRETE, OP ET AL. - DOMINICAN MARTYRS IN JAPAN [Romans 15:14-21 and Luke 16:1-8. Scriptures may vary at Dominican locations.] "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light." [Luke] The parable of the Dishonest Steward which sparks Jesus' comment at the end is one that requires some understanding of the role of wealth in Jesus' time. It was accepted that some would be rich and some would be poor, but the rich had a public duty to be generous. This public duty was connected with their "face" or "honor" or "status" in the community, a very important value in the Middle East. The dishonest steward is confronted by the rich man and realizes that he is going to lose his job. Before word of this can get to the people who are in debt to the rich man, the steward visits them and tells them that they can reduce their indebtedness! The result is that the rich man looks "honorable" and the dishonest steward makes friends who now "owe" him a favor once he loses his job. The rich man will not do anything to lose the "honor" that has come to him - he will just accept the reduction. Jesus commends the dishonest steward for his sly prudence because he uses worldly goods to secure a long term security. Jesus is trying to tell the "children of light" that they should do the same in regard to eternal life and the kingdom, rather than seeking material security. They should show the kind of prudence that the sly rogue steward showed. It is not dishonesty that is being praised, but prudence. However, a good story needs a good character, and this steward is exactly that! AMEN