Romans 15:14-21 / Luke 16:1-8
As we read today's gospel, an impulsive question that one might ask is this - Why did the master praise the dishonest steward? And why would Jesus tell such a parable?
But we need to understand the parable clearly. The master did not praise the steward for his dishonesty. Rather he praised him for his astuteness.
And that is the point that Jesus is making. The steward was shrewd and had foresight in securing his future needs.
Jesus further elaborated that the children of the world are more creative and innovative when it comes to thinking of ways to make money, to get well connected with the influential and powerful and to be well-off.
Jesus seemed to be making a lament when He said that the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than the children of light.
If we truly heed the teaching of Jesus, we would surely start to build on the things that we cannot lose, on the things of eternity.
Furthermore, we would be more careful and faithful in being stewards of the kingdom of God.
What would that entail? The last line of the 1st reading would give us an idea and a direction.
Those who have never been told about Him will see Him, and those who have never heard about Him will understand.
As Pope Paul VI said : Lay people, whose particular vocation places them in the midst of the world, and who are in charge of the most varied temporal tasks, must for this very reason, exercise a very special form of evangelization.
We need not be astute or shrewd. We only need to be sincere and honest and faithful. That is what we need to be in order to be assured of our eternal future.