September 22: Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time -The parable of the Unjust Steward

 

First Reading Amos 8:4-7
Unfair business practices and injustice to the poor will be judged by God.

 

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 113: 1-2,4-6,7-8
Praise be to God, who raises up the poor.

 

Second Reading
1 Timothy 2:1-8 : Paul tells Timothy that prayer for those in authority is pleasing to God because God wills the salvation of all.

 

Gospel Reading
Luke 16:1-13 (shorter form, Luke 16:10-13)

 

 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus relates the parable of the Unjust Steward. It’s a very tricky parable. The steward was a rogue, who dishonestly reduced the quantum of debts of his master’s tenants, but the master praised his cleverness. The master praised not his dishonesty, but his foresight, prudence and astuteness. We can learn a lot of lessons for our spiritual life from the way men behave and organize their worldly affairs. We should not adopt their goals, but we can profitably use their methods for our spiritual well being. We should hate their ends, but we must love to adopt their methods. The children of this world may be wise but their wisdom pertains only to this passing world. Though this worldly wealth is not to be trusted for our happiness, it could be used as subservient to our pursuit of our happiness in the other world. Now is the only time we have got to make good use of our gifts, talents and possession to gain heaven.