Lectionary: 135
“A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
‘What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.’
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
‘What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.’
Today's gospel should inspire long discussions about public and private responsibility.
In Louisiana I often went to the post office to pick up the mail. It was a good place to catch up on scuttlebutt around town. One day a postal worker whispered to me, "Pray for our post master. We don't know where he is."
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| Wares at the MSF Picnic |
This fellow had been welcomed with some fanfare. The Mayor with several city council members, high mucky-mucks of the postal service, and the fellow's wife and children all turned out for the ceremony. I was asked to lead a prayer and I cited several references to letters and missives in the Bible. Delivering mail has always been a sacred trust. He was personable, able and well-respected. His coming had been a big deal for the small town.
So where was he? He had lost $7000 of post office money in a local casino. Apparently, he was ashamed to come to work. Eventually everyone in town knew of it. When I last heard he was working as a nightwatchman in a warehouse.
"How did he expect to get away with it?" People always ask. How could the steward in today's gospel expect to squander his master's property and not be found out? There may be ways to explain such obtuseness but it really doesn't matter.
Jesus spells out hard, practical advice in today's gospel.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.
Some people lie because they do not know the truth. They have never met Him. They live in an illusory world of ambitions, schemes, dreams, fears and wishes. They say what they hope is the truth, or what they hope you believe. Sometimes they lose control of their stories as they tell different ones to different people.
I knew one recovering alcoholic who spoke with wonder of discovering it's easier to speak the truth all the time. That way you don't have to keep track of all your stories, or try to reconcile them when they're found out.
Christians worship the Truth who has come to live among us. We know of no other way to live. Sometimes the Truth hurts. Sometimes it's agony. But even at its worse, it's better than untruth. So long as we keep our eyes fixed on Christ and him crucified, we walk in the path of Truth.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.