Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
John J. KilgallenSeptember 20, 2010

The parable, Luke 16, 1-13, concerns a manager who is to be relieved of his job because of dishonesty.  Jesus does not identify what precisely is the dishonesty   In this situation, the manager saves himself by making friends with those who were in debt to his master: he reduces their debts and thereby makes friends who, he hopes, will take care of him after he has lost his job with the master.  Jesus underlines the fact that the fictitious manager was clever enough to find a way to save himself.  Certainly, Jesus' audience could agree that this evil person cleverly used means that had every chance of securing his salvation.  And that is the point, at least the first point, of the parable: choose the means to save yourself - you are clever enough to do that.  Unfortunately, Jesus has many experiences to show that people who want God are not so good at finding and choosing the proper means to salvation with God; people uninterested in finding God are often good examples of finding ways to get what they think is their happiness.  Up to this point, the parable is a plea to disciples to find, then choose the means to assure salvation.  Peraphrasing St. Paul: people often work harder for an earthly crown than do we who are promised a heavenly kingdom.  It is Jesus, ever the preacher of repentance, that tells this parable.

John Kilgallen, SJ

 

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.

The latest from america

Pope Leo XIV urged new archbishops to help him foster unity in a church rich in diversity. Eight of those new archbishops are from the United States, and they spoke to Catholic News Service about how they can help promote fraternity in today’s polarized world.
This week on “Jesuitical,” Zac and Ashley chat with Christopher White about his new book, ‘Pope Leo XVI: Inside the Conclave and the Dawn of a New Papacy.’
JesuiticalJune 30, 2025
Kerry Weber, incoming president of the Catholic Media Association, and executive editor of America Magazine, speaks June 26, 2025, during the Catholic Media Conference in Phoenix. (OSV News photo/Bob Roller)
Kerry Weber is an executive editor for America. On May 20, 2025, the Catholic Media Association announced that she was elected president,
Grace LenahanJune 30, 2025
"The whole church needs fraternity, which must be present in all of our relationships, whether between lay people and priests, priests and bishops, bishops and the pope," he said during his homily at Mass on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul June 29.