Today we have St. Charles Borromeo’s feast day. He was an Italian bishop in the 1500s. He was a dedicated priest, who worked in collaboration with his parishioners. He was also a holy bishop with great power, but he used it with all humility to renew the church during his time. He is the patron of learning, in particular, the formation of seminarians. He is the patron of Priests, Bishops, Cardinals and Catechists.
Being a missionary and a priest, I pray that as I serve the faithful, like St. Charles, I need to live with unselfishness to do my duty and to do good things wherever I am. I may not understand the plan of God for me, but I completely understand well that God loves me.
Reading the gospel today, I have many things to learn so that I would understand God’s Words. This gospel is the parable of a “Dishonest Steward.” Sometimes reading this gospel, we have disbelief and a sense of confusion. Let me help you be able to understand this particular parable.
First, the rich man commended the dishonest steward because he had written down the amount falsely which was different from the actual amount borrowed. He reduced the amount of the debts which is tantamount to malversation of funds. He was creating a benefit for the debtor, and thus was smart and prudent preparing his future. The reason for the master’s commendation is that this dishonest steward knows better how to take care of himself, and it was not about his act of dishonesty.
Second, this last verse, “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.” Well, it is obvious that the present preoccupation of most of the people in the world is chiefly motivated by their desire to acquire material blessings thru dishonesty. This is what we call the product of false riches. We accumulate things for our self-satisfaction and prestige, consequently leading us away from the plan of God. God always invites us “to go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
Third, speaking about “The children of the light” refers to those who are motivated by and follow the teachings of Jesus. The steward was clearly motivated by taking care of himself. He helps others to ensure his life after his master kicks him off. His “generosity” to the debtors was not to right an injustice, or to better their condition, but to achieve his personal interest to save face.
What is critically challenging to us is understanding the hidden message of the gospel. I believe that taking into consideration our being clever on choosing how to get all spiritual riches and to prepare for our future with God as He calls us “Children of Light.”
Let us avoid acquiring false riches which surely lead us away from God. We must do something for the greater good, that is to be faithful to the Lord. Saving face is not the priority at this time but being children of light; thus we must examine how we need to conscientiously work for our salvation.
St. Charles Borromeo, pray for us.
Fr. Arlon, osa
