The Gospel reading this Sunday presents us with the parable of the dishonest steward which could also be called the parable of the astute steward. Jesus narrates the story of a steward who was accused of wasting his master's resources. He was given time to put his accounts in order before he was fired. He knew he would be fired shortly and so he devised a strategy of survival afterward.

In the Old Testament, the word 'steward' is used in the context of an overseer. One who oversees the possessions, business affairs, property or slaves of his owner or master. John Bergsma in his book; The Word of The Lord, clarifies that the role of steward in a large household was one of great responsibility but also one of wealth and prestige. The job went to the master's most trusted male slave. As a result, enterprising young freemen in the Roman Empire sometimes sold themselves as slaves to wealthy men in order to become stewards of their households.

Since the stewardship was an administrative position in which one lived in physical comfort, the steward in the parable realizes he is in great trouble when the master wishes to fire him. He's not suited to any other way of making a living, and as a slave, he has no estate of his own. He's been used to socializing with his master's peers, although he is not oblivious of the fact that he is not their social or legal equals. He thought no one would trust him enough to give him a similar appointment, he would be too weak for another strenuous work, and he would be too ashamed to beg.

So, he pulls a kind of 'White Collar Crime'. Calling in his master's debtors, he has them manipulate their receipts to 'erase' a significant portion of their debt, hoping that they would be in his debt after he is fired and 'owe him one.' Eventually, when the master found out what the steward had done, he 'commended' him. This probably means that he acknowledged (grudgingly) how cunning his former employer had been.

This parable of the dishonest steward may be somewhat confusing because it would appear as if Jesus was encouraging dishonesty. That is beside the point. Jesus praised him for his prudence and foresight. The astute steward intelligently used his position as manager to secure a place for himself in the future. He used his master's money to gain acceptance from the debtors.

In praising the steward for his astuteness, Jesus was not endorsing deceit or cheating; Rather, He wants Christians to reflect on the effort of this man. If the people of this world could go to this extent to secure a worldly future, how much more effort should the children of God make to secure their heavenly home. He says, "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light" (Lk 16:8).

Jesus calls on the children of light to be also creative and smart in working for their salvation and in securing a place for the future that comes in the life hereafter. In giving this parable, He wants His listeners to think beyond this life and make provision for a future that lasts forever and not just for the temporal future for which the astute servant planned. He wishes to make them realize that they need to invest their time and energy not just in working for perishable profits but for spiritual values that last forever.

Furthermore, Jesus tells us; "make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." (Luke 16:9) This is perhaps the key teaching of the entire reading. The world encourages an attitude in which we use people to gain things. Jesus reverses this: use things to gain people. If spending money and giving goods can open others to friendship with the Church and ultimately Christ himself, then spend the money, give the goods, make the best use of earthly resources to gain heavenly rewards.

In Christ,

Fr. Samuel Aliba

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