A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 16:1-13
Jesus said to his disciples,"A rich man had a stewardwho 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.'The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do,now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.I know what I shall do so that,when I am removed from the stewardship,they may welcome me into their homes.'He called in his master's debtors one by one.To the first he said,'How much do you owe my master?'He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.'He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note.Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.'Then to another the steward said, 'And you, how much do you owe?'He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.'The steward said to him, 'Here is your promissory note;write one for eighty.'And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently."For the children of this worldare more prudent in dealing with their own generationthan are the children of light.I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.The person who is trustworthy in very small mattersis also trustworthy in great ones;and the person who is dishonest in very small mattersis also dishonest in great ones.If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,who will trust you with true wealth?If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,who will give you what is yours?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."
REFLECTION
"And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently."
As John Newton aged, his memory was failing, but two things he remembered so well. "That I am a great sinner and that Christ is a great Savior".
On the last day of our pilgrimage, we sang Amazing Grace, authored by John Newton, a former slave trader. He wrote of grace--an amazing grace--that saved his wretched self. When God found him he was lost and blind in sin. When almost drowning in a gale in the high sea, he begged for God to intervene.
In the Gospel, the steward found himself in a hopeless situation. He knew he could no longer live the way he did, having squandered all that his master had given him, his trust, his gifts. He knew he had to change. What was the actual crime? I don't know, but he knew he was to meet his judgment. Had he overcharged the people, and, therefore, now in reparation wrote for a lesser promissory note? Was he seeking favor by extending mercy to them and hopefully forgiveness? Did he know that in making amends the master would notice and have mercy?
As John Newton and the steward, changing our ways, being prudent with our spiritual life, giving to God what is His, righting our wrongs and singing praises of His mercy will allow the Holy Spirit to work in us.
AMAZING GRACE
Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed!
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be, as long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and moral life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below, will be forever mine.
When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we'd first begun.
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