21 September 2025
We have the parable of the dishonest steward today in the Gospel, and I always smile when I read it. It’s unique, subtle, and full of irony, unlike our first two readings which draw a clear line in the sand then dares us to look down and see which side we’re on.
Amos is preaching to the constituents of a very powerful and wealthy nation who have gotten where-they-are not by relying on the Lord, treating each other with dignity, nor communities supporting the least among them, but by the wealthy manipulating and mistreating the most vulnerable among them. Yes, there are definite parallels here that need some time spent in the Adoration chapel pondering, both personally and culturally. Which side of Amos’ line do you reside on? Is it possible to straddle both and how does that look for you? I’ll be praying with this passage, for sure. It’s near and dear to my heart; I consistently struggle with my wealth, how to best distribute it, and how the Lord sees my choices for, according to Amos, the Lord has a long memory.
St. Paul writes this lovely letter to his protégé, Timothy, who is now in charge of his own congregation in Ephesus. Its theme is the way Christians should conduct themselves amidst persecution through leadership, behavior, and worship. In this little snippet, Paul tells Timothy to pray for the leaders… not to belittle them, nor protest against their policies, nor speak of their sins in righteous anger, nor argue with them. No. Paul makes it clear… only prayer will change the way our governmental leaders behave. I’ve struggled here too, especially given the recent political fracas. The thing is… if you read this closely, Paul isn’t talking about praying for a change in policy, he’s talking about changing the hearts of leaders. Convert the heart and soul for the Lord, and consequently right action will follow. This is what is good and pleasing to the Lord, according to Paul, for the Lord only wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. When you look at this line, where do you stand?
And now to the irony of the dishonest steward, whose line is not as sketchy as you might first think. Here’s the deal. You and I are the squandering-the-Lord’s-financial-gift stewards and the way we treated people will come to light to when our time comes. You see, our wealth is dishonest because (a) we think we earned it all by ourselves, and (b) we think it’s for us to use as we please. There’s no honesty in either of those options.
So. If you had a vision that your life would end tomorrow and come face-to-face with the Lord, what would you do? If you let Amos peek into your checkbook and Paul into your prayer life… Any changes you might want to make? Forgive a financial debt or repair family grudge? Give a donation or make amends? Because true wealth is the sum of your soul and way you treat the people in your life. That’s what counts. That’s the Lord’s line.
#whichsideareyouon