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 he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’
He 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 the children of light.”
REFLECTION
"And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently."
All we know is that the steward was fired because he squandered his master’s property. Was he dishonest and overcharged, was he delinquent on the upkeep and the property was losing its value, or did he gamble using the property as a wager?
We are not told, so I need to find a scenario where I can be dishonest but yet receive praises and commendations for acting prudently.
When I disobey God's will, break His commandments or refuse to love, I am squandering all the good God has given me, His gifts and "woe to me" His love.
Most important, I am headed toward a destination of perdition. To avert such a destitute ending, I can do what pleases the Lord. As He forgives me when I repent, I seek to undo my bad dealings with others because it is the right and prudent thing to do. In essence when I forgive their debts to me, I am showing mercy.
How should we deal with one another? As Jesus treats us... with merciful justice. As love is shown our neighbor, we should have our own hearts void of things and prejudices so that God can commend us with everlasting life becoming His living image.
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