Geeky Catholic Sunday: Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2019
Gospel Reading: Luke 16:1-13
Highlight: "You cannot serve both God and mammon."
Reflection: The parable of the dishonest steward has never really made sense to me. I just can't figure out what the steward did that was so praiseworthy. His job was in danger because of his dishonesty, but he ends up saving himself through further dishonesty? What kind of message is Jesus trying to send? Here's the best I can figure out. The steward acted greedily and foolishly, but in the end, he showed mercy to people that owed his master, in the hope of receiving mercy after being dismissed. He prioritized relationships over wealth, after realizing that his dishonest wealth would be taken away from him. I think that what Jesus is saying is not that this steward was a paragon of virtue that we should emulate, but rather that even sinners sometimes recognize something that we don't. They realize the importance of mercy and friendship. The goods of this world are temporary. If we cherish money as an end in itself, we will not be given the spiritual treasure of everlasting happiness. But if we utilize the goods of this world to further our friendships with God and others, then God will give us the ultimate good.
Geeky Quote: "You have chosen.... wisely." - Grail Knight, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to focus on what is truly important. Amen.
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Highlight: "You cannot serve both God and mammon."
Reflection: The parable of the dishonest steward has never really made sense to me. I just can't figure out what the steward did that was so praiseworthy. His job was in danger because of his dishonesty, but he ends up saving himself through further dishonesty? What kind of message is Jesus trying to send? Here's the best I can figure out. The steward acted greedily and foolishly, but in the end, he showed mercy to people that owed his master, in the hope of receiving mercy after being dismissed. He prioritized relationships over wealth, after realizing that his dishonest wealth would be taken away from him. I think that what Jesus is saying is not that this steward was a paragon of virtue that we should emulate, but rather that even sinners sometimes recognize something that we don't. They realize the importance of mercy and friendship. The goods of this world are temporary. If we cherish money as an end in itself, we will not be given the spiritual treasure of everlasting happiness. But if we utilize the goods of this world to further our friendships with God and others, then God will give us the ultimate good.
Geeky Quote: "You have chosen.... wisely." - Grail Knight, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to focus on what is truly important. Amen.
To get these short reflections every week, click the Subscribe button at the top of this page, or you can "Like" or "Follow" the GeekyCatholicDad Facebook page here.
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