Be Good Stewards
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (18/09/2022)
(Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13 OR Luke 16:10-13)
By Fr. Samuel Odeh
In our first reading from the prophet Amos we are told God is angry with those people who are dishonest in their business practices and who cheat the poor. He promises judgement on them. “Surely, I will never forget any of their deeds,” says the Lord. The lesson to us is very clear: do not cheat the poor, do not steal, especially from those who cannot afford to be stolen from, and do not take advantage of the less fortunate.
In our Gospel reading Jesus tells the story of a dishonest steward who was reported to his master for “wasting” his property. What this meant was that the steward cheated his master's customers by inflating prices and charging higher taxes and fees that went straight into his pockets. The master calls the steward into his presence, threatens to sack him and demands an account of his stewardship from him. The steward fears for his future and for his security. He is not strong enough to farm and he does not want to end up as a beggar. He decides to make friends with those who owe his master so that they may welcome him into their houses. He gets honest and decides not to charge extra, telling them the true cost prices of commodities they bought earlier. He traded illicit and fraudulent profit for friends. This wise decision of the steward wins him the praise of his master; his behavior is considered wise.
Jesus recommends the solution of the dishonest steward to us. He tells us to use our wealth to make friends for ourselves among the less fortunate so that at the end of time they may welcome us into heaven. All of us have been blessed with stewardship of one type or another. It could be our talent, our natural gifts or even our wealth or material belongings. We are to use them to win heaven by helping others. Furthermore, a Christian should be a person who can be trusted. If we can be trusted with small things then it should also be possible to be trusted with big things. If Christians can be trusted with money and other passing things of this world, then they can be trusted with matters of the Kingdom of God. Jesus ends this lesson by teaching that no one can serve two separate masters at the same time. God must come before money.
A Christian way of life is possible only through prayer. Saint Paul tells us in the second reading from his first letter to Timo.thy that we are to pray especially for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions because God desires all people “to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Let us pray today that we all may be good stewards of the blessings God has given to us. Amen
