From the Pastor’s Desk: September 22, 2019
The Gospel for today presents a “spiritual puzzle”, as the parable ends with this phrase, “…and the master commanded that dishonest steward for acting prudently.” The steward knew that his time of employment was coming to an end, and before the final moment, he uses his connections and position to prepare for the future. After all, his decision to write down his notes not only will bring the rich man what was his due in full, but will emphasize right use of money and resources by the steward to gain favor with others. He was prudent and that reflects a good quality to have.
In a way, we are all like that steward. We know that our lives will come to an end, sooner or later, and yet, are we effectively utilizing our resources and opportunities to prepare for what will come next? I think this is the main point of this passage. It seems easier to get caught up with what seems to be obvious – the praise of the dishonest steward - than to look deep down within our own hearts to evaluate the “prudence” in our decisions of serving the Lord. This is the question we need to ask ourselves. Are we energetically building Christ's Kingdom now, so as to be able to enjoy it forever later?
Many of the great men and women of the world - the CEOs, the athletes, the movie stars, the political leaders - are exemplary in their tenacity, their determination, and their prudence. They set a goal and let nothing stop them from achieving it. They turn everything into an opportunity to advance their cause. No sacrifice is too great. I witness this type of commitment and dedication regularly in my capacity as a chaplain to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The prize is the Super Bowl.
Imagine how different the Church (and the world) would be if every Catholic pursued holiness that energetically.
Today, we are invited to truly ponder the Word of God with His message. Jesus is incredibly realistic. He knows the human heart entirely because He is fully God and fully man. And so He knows that…“No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Whom do we serve? Do we serve God or have we made ourselves slaves to all kinds of human desires?
In the Christian understanding of “prudence”, in our giving to Christ and His Church, we look at the gift of Stewardship - time, talent, and treasure:
- Time - How much time do we give to the Lord? I believe we all give Him some time. But can we give more? Should we? Would you call yourself a wise steward of your time?
- Talent - Our talents, too, are resources given by God. We are called to invest them in loving God and loving our neighbor. Are you a prudent steward of God’s talents?
- Treasure - It is a law of the Church that every Catholic should give financial support to the works of the Church, each one in accordance with their means. There is a longstanding tradition in Christianity of tithing. That means giving the first ten percent of all one's earnings to the Church. Are you a generous steward of God’s treasure?
Let us pray this week for the gifts of prudence and generosity. Let us pray to choose where we want to dedicate our hearts. In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to dedicate them to God above all else. If we do that, we find the joyful freedom and authentic peace that only He can give.
Have a blessed week!
With prayers,
Fr. Andy