For the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time…
For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own
generation than are the children of light.
Luke 16:8
Many of Jesus’ parables are intended to catch us off guard. Today’s parable is certainly one of them. How to make sense of a manager of his boss’ property, down on his luck, who bilks his boss and, alas, ends up receiving the boss’ praise?
It’s called prudence. The manager is admired for sizing up his situation correctly and acting decisively to save the day—or, in this instance, to save his own skin. This is how the children of this world—or at least the most clever of them—make their way through life.
How much more, Jesus says, should the children of light guard their eternal possessions? It may not top the list in our own examination of conscience, but how enterprising are we in the deployment of the gifts we have received?
Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A.
Contributor, Living Faith
This is a guest post from Fr. Dennis Gallagher, A.A. Learn more about him at LivingFaith.com.
