Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.

Today’s Gospel account of the dishonest steward is disquieting to us because it seems on face value that Jesus is commending someone who has been caught cheating. Yet, Jesus calls us to distinguish between approving dishonesty and recognising shrewdness. The steward on seeing that his fraud has been discovered by the Master acts decisively to secure his future. His methods are dishonest, but his urgency challenges complacency.
As “children of light” our faith is not an invitation to drift through life, assuming good intentions are enough. It calls for shrewdness, discernment, imagination, and action. Our time, possessions, and influence are meant to serve more than our own security. They have the potential to strengthen relationships, relieve burdens, and respond to needs with generosity. Rather than applauding the steward’s dishonesty, this parable challenges us to be resourceful and contribute powerfully to God’s mission to bring justice, compassion and generosity to bear in our world.

We are asked to examine our priorities. Where do we invest our greatest energy? Are we more careful about protecting our comfort than speaking the truth? Are we resourceful by noticing the moment before us and responding courageously. Today, that response might be an overdue apology, a generous gift, or a practical act of care.

Lord, give us wisdom to recognise what truly matters, integrity in how we pursue it, and courage to act when the opportunity arises. Amen.

How shrewd are you in living and proclaiming the Gospel?