1.Amos8:4-7
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1Timoth 2: 1-8
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Gospel: Luke
16:1-13
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" Being honest, a key
success to God's Kingdom"
There was an interview
in a certain business company, a businessman who was the head of that business
company interviewed three applicants for a job. As the test, he asks: " If
you divide six by two, what's the result?" " Three answered the first
applicant. He was not hired for being too honest. " Two," answered
the second applicant. Again, he was not hired because he was dishonest and for
being an ignorant fool. The third
applicant answered, " Sir, if I were to divide six between you and me, I
would rather give you four and take two, myself." He was hired for being
clever.
In the gospel we hear
the story about the dishonest steward being accused of squandering the money of
his boss. When he sensed that he is about to be fired out, what he did was to
call all as those who had debts with his
boss to his own advantage and reduced their bills as much as fifty percent
discount. Those percentages that he reduced, in my reflection could be his own
commission or his own profit. He clearly reasoned out that after he would be
fired out, there would be people who would take care of him because of their gratitude
to him. He is called good and clever because he foresaw the necessity of his
future.
There is an interesting
story about a very rich woman who died and went to heaven. St. Peter escorted
her down a magnificent street on which each house was beautifully made like a
palace. The wealthy woman saw one house that was particularly beautiful and
asked about who lived in that house. " That," St. Peter
answered, " is the home your
helper." " well," the woman said smiling," If my helper
gets a place like that, I certainly look forward to seeing a palace home for
myself." " Let us see Peter answered her back. Soon they came to a
narrow alley where the houses were small and cramped. " You will live in
that hut," said St. Peter, pointing with his finger.
"Me, live in that
shanty? That is an insult!" retorted the wealthy woman. " This is the
best we can do for you," Peter said. " You must understand that we
only build your home up here with the materials you send ahead while you are
still on earth. And so now is the time that we send materials ahead of us in
the afterlife to be built as or heavenly home. These materials are not the
physical construction materials that we can buy in a construction supply
company. These materials are not just prayers and acts of charity, but doing
the day-to-day ordinary work in an extraordinary way. It means consciously
performing your duties well, whether you are a lawyer, a government official, a
teacher, a student, a policeman or an ordinary citizen.
The second characteristics
of a steward is that he is trustworthy. Jesus does not tolerate unfaithfulness.
Like for example, for a Christian there are no white lies, he is always
truthful. If we have learned not to use hurting words or laugh language against
people, we will not be tempted to use hurting words or rough language against
people we will not be tempted to use violence. As Jesus said: " The person
who is trustworthy in very in a very small matters is also trustworthy in great
ones,"(v.10).
Sometimes in the past
in one of the provincial hospitals in Kenya there was a physician who was
connected with the provincial hospital. Nevertheless, he is known also to own a
funeral parlor. He really met the market demand of the provincial hospital but
he also suffered a serious problem of his credibility due to conflict of
interest.
The last
characteristics of a steward is he has focus. The term used by Jesus to refer
to us is that of a slave. As we all know that a slave has no right. He is totally
obedient to his master. Therefore there is no part-time or sometimes disciples
but only full-time disciples. So let us give one hundred percent of ourselves
to God above all.
From the readings let
us understand what controls or rules our
lives? Who is the master( or ruler) in charge of our life? Our master is that
which governs our though-life, shapes our ideals and controls the desire of the
heart and the values we chose to live by. There is always one master alone who
has the power to set us free from the slavery of sin and addiction. The Master
is the Lord Jesus Christ.
From the gospel we also
learn a lesson that we should not only
invest in terms of material things in this world but above all let us invest
for eternal life. Jesus said: " I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth so that when it fails,
you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings."(v9). I think these words of Jesus could be
reworded as follows: " And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by
means of worldly worth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the
eternal homes." In other words, let us share of what we have for others.
To make friends by means of worldly wealth requires one to perform acts of
charity by helping the needy with physical items such as food, clothing and
furniture. Those who have been helped will remember their donors. Those who
receive alms become your friends because your are merciful to them in their
time of need, just as God is merciful to you in your need for his forgiveness
and help and welcome you into eternal home.
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