Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 16, 1-8
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?
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 he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’
He 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 world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than the children of light.”
Administer life
1. Squandering. Life is the greatest gift God gives us, yet sometimes we let it slip away. Any excess is harmful, so when you devote more time to work than to your family, that’s bad; or when you devote more time to partying than to your responsibilities, that’s also wrong. Finding balance is essential. As St. Augustine once said, “Keep order, and order will keep you.”
2. What shall I do? This is the question we all ask ourselves when we face moments when we feel lost and uncertain about the future. In today’s Gospel, Jesus encourages us to look carefully at our lives and discover what we can contribute to the world. Discover your journey and your struggle. Reflect on your unique talents—everyone has something they’re good at that brings joy and purpose to their life.
3. Prudence. It’s crucial to treat others with kindness and respect, recognizing that we all rely on one another. Remember that life is like an omelet, at times you’re on top and then, at the bottom. Life can change quickly; one moment we might be in a position of authority, and the next, we could be at the bottom. This realization often crosses my mind in everyday situations, like at the bank or while running errands, when I observe people acting arrogantly. I remind myself that our roles are temporary and that we are all equals. Therefore, no matter your position, always be polite and kind—leadership and status never last forever.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you, be with you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
