Reflections on Scripture | Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

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Gospel
Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
'What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.'
The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.'
He called in his master's debtors one by one.
To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?'
He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.'
He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.'
Then to another he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?'
He replied, 'One hundred measures of wheat.'
He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.'
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than the children of light."

Reflection

Jesus is commending someone who has figured out a way to find a place that will take care of him. He's doing it by winning the favor of others and knowing that they will take care of him.

And it's true that we get caught up in the same kind of thing when we work with God and the Kingdom that He's offering us, and He’s complementing those who do see a way to take care of themselves so that they will have a place for them. And Jesus is offering them the place that offers everything to them.

And if they just use the wisdom of this man, if they would look more carefully what the kingdom is they would say, I'm crazy not to do what this is asking me to do. Because when I do say yes to the Kingdom of God, I am more than cared for. So He's saying the generation that is self-centered in a sense is better than the generation that is caught up in the work of the temple.

So the Kingdom of God is for people. It's for you and for me, and any sacrifice it asks us to do is worth it.

Closing Prayer

Open our eyes, our minds, our hearts to see the beauty of what you have offered us as a way of life that leads always to more life for us, for others. It is a beautiful promise and worth everything that we could ever give up in order to participate in it. So we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross