for it is about to be terminated.’ The steward thought to himself, ‘What am I to do now? My
master will surely dismiss me. I am not strong enough to do hard work, and I am ashamed to
beg. I know what I will do: I must make sure that when I am dismissed, there will be people who
will welcome me into their homes.’
So he called his master’s debtors, one by one. He asked the first debtor, ‘How much do
you owe my master?’ The reply was, ‘A hundred jars of oil.’ The steward said, ‘Here is your
bill. Sit down quickly and write fifty.’ To the second debtor he put the same question, ‘How
much do you owe?’ The answer was, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ Then the steward said,
‘Take your bill and write eighty.’
The master commended the dishonest steward for his astuteness: for the people of this
world are more astute, in dealing with their own kind, than are the people of light. And so I
tell you: use filthy money to make friends for yourselves, so that, when it fails, these people
may welcome you into the eternal homes. Whoever can be trusted in little things can also
be trusted in great ones; whoever is dishonest in slight matters will also be dishonest in
greater ones. So if you have been dishonest in handling filthy money, who would entrust
you with true wealth? And if you have been dishonest with things that are not really yours,
who will give you that wealth which is truly your own?
No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not like the one and is fond of the other,
or he regards one highly and the other with contempt. You cannot give yourself both to
God and to Money.” “You cannot give yourself both to God and to Money.”
Read:
Through Amos, Yahweh warns those who selfishly manipulate resources excluding the
poor and the needy. Paul invites us to pray for those in authority so that they govern for
the good of all. Jesus exhorts us to be trustworthy in the earthly affairs, with a heart focused
on what is eternal.
Reflect:
Fr. Pedro Arrupe, 28th Superior General of the Jesuits, once remarked that any form of
government could be good provided those in it had the best interests of the people in
their hearts. The world has been currently witnessing a radicalization of national governance
in many countries wherein hidden agendas have highjacked the leadership, leading to much
victimization of people and collapse of democratic institutions. Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, 13th
Superior General of the sClaretian Missionaries, was once asked by a fellow Claretian as to
his greatest challenge as the superior general. “To protect the Congregation from myself,” he
replied. If only every leader tried their best to protect their flocks from one’s own vested
interests and focus on discerning, with the people and in the light of God’s will, what is
genuinely good for the people!
Pray:
Pray for your religious and civil leaders.
Act:
Write a letter of appreciation to one of your leaders ensuring him/ her of your prayers.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2022