A reflection on dishonest and true wealth

This Sunday’s Gospel captures a strikingly narrated passage about a steward’s mismanagement of his master’s estate. Jesus poses a thought-provoking rhetorical question, “If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?” (Lk 16:11). This Sunday’s readings place before the reader a situation into which rich and poor could both fall. What is the most prudent action when one needs to act quickly and decisively?

This Sunday’s first reading, responsorial psalm and second reading elevate the status of the deprived. The prophet Amos warns of those who take advantage of the lowly, “We will diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fix our scales for cheating!” (Am 8:5). These were common abuses in the prosperous Northern Kingdom of Israel during the life of the prophet(786-746 B.C.E.). Amos prophesied that the Lord will certainly act against such ethical degradation, because God does not forget the extortion of the poor. Likewise, the responsorial psalm in this Sunday’s readings foretells a time of balance and restitution: “He raises the needy from the dust, seats them with princes” (Ps 113:7-8). 

This Sunday’s second reading does not forget the situation of the rich, especially those with power outside the Christian community. Paul expressed to Timothy a desire that all people pray for the king and all those in authority. In presenting the sole divine authority of God, Paul proclaimed an early creedal formula of the faith: “There is one God. There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all” (1 Tm 2:5). In Christ, God reigns over the rich and poor alike. Any differences among them vanish in the face of the salvation Christ has won for humanity. 

This Sunday’s Gospel reading continues to develop this theme. Things like wealth and status are unreal in the eyes of God. Their supposed importance vanishes in the face of more important considerations. “A rich man,” says Jesus to his disciples, “had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property” (Lk 16:1). In the Palestinian and Mediterranean context, the steward was more than a worker, he acted in the name of his master and wielded awesome power as a substitute for the estate owner. The steward could fire and hire laborers, as well as collect and forgive debts owed to his master. These agents were also known to cover their own personal wages by collecting at high interest rates and practices of extortion. When the steward’s own livelihood comes under thread, however, he acts quickly and wisely to change his ways.

What’s the point? Jesus used this story to imply that his disciples will one day act as agents in the name of God, who yield that same authority like the steward in this Sunday’s Gospel. When we are wronged, it is easy to withhold forgiveness or to demand far more in restitution that any damage that was done to us. When God demands an account of our actions, however, how much easier will our life be if we have reduced or forgiven the debts owed to us. The disciple must be willing to act prudently and quickly or face the reality of irrelevance. The unfaithful steward of this Sunday’s parable acted to save himself. Today’s disciples must similarly act to forgive, to recommit themselves to the Gospel and to stay at the Lord’s side to bring others to salvation.