RBWords

     The story of the dishonest steward is one that can set folks to wondering and arguing.  Is Jesus commending dishonesty?  No, he is commending prudence.  The context of the story is very important.  The economic and social system of Jesus' time was not the same as our modern capitalistic and individualistic one.  An economic interpretation of the parable has the steward setting bonds lower by giving up the "commission" that he could charge as a "middle man."  A social interpretation ignores the commission and focuses on the social system of honor.  The steward's firing would not be known to the debtors.  They would assume he is acting on behalf of the owner.  Thus the owner is made to look very generous and gains public prestige and honor.  The steward looks good because he helps the debtors, and, of course, the debtors get relief.  Whether one takes the economic or the social or both interpretations, the message is about the prudent use of material wealth, which is a major theme in the Gospel of Luke.

     I have mentioned in the past the common situation where a garage on a home becomes not the place to put the car but a place to "store stuff" and the "storage" becomes a permanent home for the "stuff."  Imagine if one member of the family decides on his or her own to give a lot of it away to the St. Vincent de Paul Society at the local parish.  Imagine the consternation:  "How could you have given away that________________?"  and just then the complainer gets a phone call praising the gift and the complainer for his or her generosity?  Gulp!  Imagine also that the donor figures out the amount of a tax write-off for the value of the donated "stuff" and writes a check for it to the Catholic Relief Services!  Hmmmm.....  I think the picture is clear enough!  If we were, at first, piously excluding ourselves from the company of the dishonest steward whose prudence Jesus praises, we might want to rethink our position.  Maybe we could do something wonderful with that garage full of "stuff."   AMEN