First Reading: Amos 8:4-7/Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 113:1-2.4-6.7-8 (R. 1a, 7a) Second Reading: ITimothy 2:1-8/Gospel Acclamation: IICorinthians 8:9/Gospel: Luke 16:1-13
THEME: STEWARDS, NOT OWNERS!
Our attitudes towards people and the use of wealth is the core of today’s liturgical readings. No one is an island, and we need each other on our journey to eternity. The food, drink, clothes, shelter, money, encouragement, advice and attention we give to people are investments made for eternity! In the first reading, Amos, the prophet of social justice, hits the nail right on its head when he bemoans the injustices at his time orchestrated by those who make wealth by cheating the poor and exploiting the needy: “Hear this, you who trample upon the needy, and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying ‘When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great, and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the refuse of the wheat?’” (Am. 8:4-6). Our modern society is no different, no better, as corrupt business practices are the mainstay of the global economics! People are ready to kill and destroy others and the natural environment in order to make money!
Nonetheless, God’s eyes are opened 24/7, and they see everything that happens in the universe. The Psalmist acknowledges God’s omnipresence and omniscience, and so queries: “Who is like the Lord, our God, who dwells on high, who lowers himself to look down upon heaven and earth?” (Ps. 113:5-6). Furthermore, the Psalmist spells out what God is able to do in defence of the poor and the needy who are marginalised in and by society: “From the dust he lifts up the lowly, from the ash heap he raises the poor, to set them in the company of princes, yes, with the princes of the people” (Ps. 113:7-8). While God offers hope to those who suffer injustice, he expects all of us to cultivate the sense of justice, fairness and equality in our social environment.
Perhaps, the aforementioned happens because we fail to understand the profound truth that we are simply stewards, not owners; managers not proprietors and servants not masters, on earth! Today’s Gospel makes this point very clear noting that everything we are and have including our very life, must be accounted for. As care-takers, we are responsible for all that God has entrusted to our care. We ought not and should not be wasteful and exploitative; nor handle things the way we like. It calls for faithfulness, honesty, probity and accountability: “He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much” (Lk. 16:10). We are to have singleness of mind and purpose to be loyal to God rather than to our own whims and caprices. “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk. 16:13). So, our resources must be placed at the service of God and humanity.
Sometimes, we trust in human wisdom and astuteness however deceitful and malicious it may be! We think we are ‘smart’ even in the wrong sense! In an era where political correctness is advocated for, we massage the truth and think we are smart and witty! In our little-mindedness, we think that is prudent! Yet, by doing so, we compromise our allegiance to God which must be unrivalled and undivided. So, with eternal life in view, let us take care of the resources we have – our time, talent, treasure, energy, money, office, faith, the environment, etc. We need a change of heart. To help us chart a new path, and to turn on a new leaf, there are four (4) lessons to import from today’s Gospel.
- Entrusted with the gift of life and responsibilities, we should do everything possible to win salvation for our souls as the prudent steward did, even though, his rascality in forging figures and influencing debtors to do same is not to be imitated (cf. Lk. 16:8). The point is that, the steward in the Gospel has foresight; he sees a crisis looming and using his position, takes a quick action to circumvent it. It is in this, lies his shrewdness! We must also do all in our power and will to win eternal life. Nothing whatsoever should make us miss eternal life! 2
- We should use material possessions to cement friendships, for in this lies the permanent and real value of life (cf. Lk. 16:9). In actual fact, our true wealth consists not in what we keep as possessions, but in what we give away as charity. The best way to find ourselves is to lose ourselves in the service of others. In this regard, the best thing to do with the things we most cherish in life is to share them with others. When we spend our life, time and resources, they return to us as blessings. According to Jewish Rabbis “The rich help the poor in this world, but the poor help the rich in the world to come.” Indeed, our charity does not only make life easier for others on earth, but also affects our eternity. When we give, not as a mere duty but a privilege to help others, the best things in life and eternal life itself come to us.
- We should do the little and ordinary things extraordinarily, honestly and faithfully (cf. Lk. 16:10-11). All we are, and all we have here on earth are given to us, we do not own them; and that is why we do not go with them when we die! It is only in heaven (with God) we are given what is truly ours, and what we get in heaven depends on how we use the things of earth.
- We cannot serve two masters (cf. Lk. 16:13). We do not serve God as we do with part-time job! Loyalty to God must be exclusive and we should not give him our spare but full time!
Nevertheless, many people, businesses, organisations and entities extremely capitalistic in outlook, find it very difficult to follow these profound truths, these precepts of God regarding the rich-poor relationship. To this end, in the second reading, St. Paul writes to his disciple, Timothy, advocating the life of prayer in order to overcome social cankers: “First of all, I urge that supplications, prayers and intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life, godly and respectful in every way” (I Tim. 2:1-2). The Good News is all-embracing and without class distinctions. It is for all nations and peoples, Christians and non-Christians, rich and poor, high and low, aristocrats and peasants, and royals and commoners. Nobody is outside the love, grace and purpose of God who wants to save all. This is God’s universal salvific will. As patriotic citizens, we should pray for all people particularly, our leaders (whose decisions affect us greatly), so that our lives become better, fruitful and meaningful. St. Paul considers this lifestyle as good and acceptable to God who wants everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth, which sets us free (cf. I Tim. 2:3-4; Jn. 8:32). Thus, it is a clarion call to pray and intercede for a world gone berserk and wayward!
Furthermore, God does not want his children to stand aloof concerning the plight of the poor in society. He expects us to take proper action even if that entails making sacrifices like his Son, Jesus Christ did: “Though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich” (II Cor. 8:9). Consequently, we cannot be engrossed with our private interests and affairs while society is plagued by structural sin and forces of evil whose fruits are corruption, racism, exploitation and neo-colonialism. We must guard against unfair economic policies which put producing countries and producer-farmers at the mercy of politico-economic actors who determine and control prices at the international market to their own advantage. We need to intercede for everybody, for prayer changes us and pulls down evil and unjust structures!
Beloved in Christ, anytime we look at our ‘possessions’ let us think of others’ welfare. Sharing is caring! We must help others so as to make life a little easier for them. We are shrewd and blessed if we do so! Nothing is too small and nothing is too big, and all of us can do it. It is not just money, but who we are and what we have, which must be at the service of humanity. May God grant us a fresh understanding of this! Happy Sunday! Remember we are: #Stewards-Not-Owners#
