Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples, "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?" (Lk. 16:1-13)
When reading Luke's gospel for this twenty-fifth Sunday in ordinary time, I was reminded of many adages I heard growing up. Do you remember these sayings, "do an honest day's work for an honest day's pay"; treat people nice on your way up because they are the same ones you'll see on the way down"? My grandmother's favorite was, "What's done in the dark, shall come to light"? I share these with you because they apply to today's gospel reading.
The steward in the gospel thought what he was doing, which seems like not much, would not be found out by the boss (what's done in the dark shall come to light). Someone always sees what you're doing, and in their humanness, they will tell someone else and on and on. But this also should remind us that our Father in heaven sees and knows all, and he doesn't need anyone to tell Him. So why not act accordingly?
Wouldn't it have been good for that steward to collect from those in his master's debt a bit at a time to not create a hardship on anyone, making that old balloon payment? The rich man trusted the steward to "do an honest day's work." However, the steward got so full of himself that he forgot who he was and what he was supposed to do. How often do we, when faced with the threat of something dire, finally 'get busy' doing what we should have been doing all along? We have talents. Are we using them?
How many times do we find ourselves wasting time doing (I'll let you fill in the blank) when we could be using that time to better ourselves? When confronted with a do-or-die decision, we're like, "oh my, what should I do? I'm not ready; what if I do this or that?
In John's gospel, Jesus said, "the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth (Jn. 16:13). We must remember that when we make what may look like a mistake, it may very well be part of the road map that God has laid out for us to follow. And when we reach that goal, we appreciate it that much more. But we must do something, take a stand, move, and be present. As he began his descent, the steward knew he was about to see those same people he met on the way up. Now he talks to them and bargains. I wonder how many times did they ask him for a break? The master acknowledged that he did something worthwhile in the end, but it was too late. We never want God to say that about us, do we? So, what do we do?
We are here on borrowed time, so we should make the most of the days given, by serving each other, not anything material, because that can and will be taken if we don't have it in proper order. I once had a supervisor pushing our management team about our metrics. She said we didn't have our priorities in order, and until we did, she demanded that we stay in the office until the numbers were correct.
My co-managers and I all had children we needed to pick up. So I tried to reason with her because we had done all we could to address the errors. I explained to her that we all had obligations for the evening. Uncaringly, she said we didn't have our priorities in order. I advised her that my priorities were in order, God, Family, and Work. I testified that I realized my job afforded me the means for extra opportunities for my family. But, "My God will fully supply whatever [I] need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). I left her office, got my purse, and left; my co-managers grabbed their personal belongings and went with me.
We never discussed that day again, and she never questioned our priorities. She knew we were trustworthy and that we gave all that we had to reach the set goals. And if we fell short, it wasn't because we didn't do our best. That is what God asks of us each day. The steward gave enough to get by, but the rich man discovered it wasn't his best.
Be the best in all you do.
Author: Lady Carmen Rancifer Jenkins, KPCLA Gulf Coast District President
Our Lady of Lourdes, Court 300, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Atlanta, GA