It might seem strange to us that in today’s Gospel, Jesus is praising a dishonest steward for his actions. On the surface, it looks like he is cheating his master out of money by lowering the debts of his master’s debtors! However, I would imagine that the reason this steward acted in this way is because he had been charging the debtors more than they actually owed to support his desired lifestyle. That is why the master commends the steward: because in the end, he did what was right, so that he might save grace with those he defrauded.
We have to be careful with how we interpret this passage, though. The lesson is not simply “its ok to defraud one’s neighbour, as long as you make it right if you get caught.” The lesson is that it is better to live a life of honesty, integrity, and decency in all things, so that we might be found worthy to enter the Kingdom of God. This is why Jesus cautions us in the Gospel that we cannot serve two masters. If we serve the things of this world, we will lose sight of the things that will help us to get to Heaven. By serving God alone, we can ensure that we do not become overly attached to the things of this world, and that we keep our sights set on God alone.
This weekend, I want to take a moment to publicly thank Jessica Jarvis for her service to our Family of Parishes as our Coordinator of Youth Ministry for the past two and a half years. Jessica has chosen to step down from this position in order to spend more time with her family. Jessica’s dedication to guiding our youth and Sacramental programs through the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be understated. We owe her a debt of gratitude for working to deliver these programs in the midst of constantly changing circumstances. I want to wish Jessica all the best in her future endeavours- know that you are always welcome in our Family of Parishes!
I also want to extend to all of you a special invitation to attend our Family of Parishes Festival next weekend. It is shaping up to be a wonderful event, which will allow us to celebrate the rich diversity of our Family of Parishes. We are excited to have representatives of all of our communities participating in the Mass at 11:30 am at St. Angela’s, followed by food, informational displays, and entertainment. On behalf of our Family of Parishes Staff, we hope to see you there!
In Christ,
Fr. Steven Huber, CSB