READINGS:   Amos 8: 4-7   /   Psalm 113: 1-2. 4-6. 7-8   /   1 Timothy 2: 1-8   /   LUKE 16: 1-13

HIS WORD…FOR THE CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD ARE MORE PRUDENT IN DEALING WITH THEIR OWN GENERATION THAN ARE THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT. I TELL YOU, MAKE FRIENDS FOR YOURSELVES WITH DISHONEST WEALTH, SO THAT WHEN IT FAILS, YOU WILL BE WELCOMED INTO ETERNAL DWELLINGS…

my words…Point of Contextual Reflection: Was the steward in the gospel parable really dishonest? And if ever, to whom was he dishonest? Let us try to know and reflect…

Brothers and Sisters, this parable shows us the type or system of business during the time of Jesus. The whole enterprise of a rich man or “Amo” is entrusted to a steward or floor manager or trustee or “fiado” or “mayor domo”while the rich owner is living away from the location of his business to protect himself from solicitors, robbers, hold-uppers, and hostage-takers. And this parable story was well understood by the people of His time. And here the steward remains faithful to his rich Master. Like in our time, he was just a victim of envy, jealousy and mistrust by his fellow workers and subordinates. The steward was simply dishonest with himself. Why? Because the discounts he gave back to his customers or clients were supposedly his own sure gains and commissions; the capital and the returns of investment (ROI) of his master were intact; he never cheated the master.  What he did was to give his gains up in order to gain friends who would generously in return welcome him once he is expelled from work. He acted prudently in order not to lose people. And the Master commended him for being humanitarian.

Points of Situational Reflection: Brothers and Sisters, this can also be our dilemma in life: who or what is more important to you? Is it human being or money and wealth? Look at the people that God has given you, are they not your treasures? Can you imagine of cases or situations where blood brothers and sisters and relatives are not in good terms just because of inheritance wealth and shares of stocks of their parents? There are plenty of these cases in courts now! They forgot that they are baptized Christian brothers and sisters! They are willing to spend for their “pride”! They spent a lot for these cases when in fact, this could have easily been resolved if they just know how to humbly forgive and value people more than the dishonest wealth of this world… Our greed and self-centeredness consume us and cause us to be away from people, God’s given treasures in our life. Yes, “worldly treasure can be a good servant – it can bring us comfort, enable us to meet our daily needs, and help our neighbors. BUT it can also be a severe master – if while earning money and collecting possessions, we become avaricious. The greedy person is preoccupied with protecting and increasing his assets that he believes are the fruits of his efforts. God is toppled from the inner temple of his heart, and his wealth is enshrined as his ‘new god’ ” (366 Days with the Lord 2016 – Sunday Reflection, September 18, 2016).

Brothers and Sisters, we are just stewards of God’s beautiful and valuable creation. Let us care for it and use it to enhance very good Christian relationships. We are the real treasures of God; and our true treasure in life is no other than the Kingdom of Heaven…

GOD BLESS THE TRUE AND HONEST MANAGERS OF HIS BEAUTIFUL CREATION…

By Fr. Julius C. Lupot