This Sunday we have the opportunity to hear two different homilists examine the parable of the dishonest steward. "You cannot serve both God and mammon."
This Homily (14 minutes) by Bishop Michael Warfel was given at the Sunday 8:30 am Mass. How Much stuff is enough? How we use the goods of the earth, indicates the depth of our relationship with Jesus. This is a right to life issue, i.e.: a right to clean water, to food, to shelter, etc... Three things we can do: 1) Make an inventory of our resources (bank accounts, clothes, tools, toys, etc...) and examine how do they build up the Kingdom of God. Do they help or hinder my relationship with Christ. 2) Share some of our resources with those who are deprived and are in need. 3) Get involved locally with helping those in need. Jesus in the disguise of the poor.
This Homily (19 minutes) by Fr. Thomas Weise was given at the Sunday 5:30 pm Mass. Just what is Jesus doing by praising the dishonest steward's craftiness? Could this praise be seen as a lament. Jesus simply desires that we put in at least an equal amount of time into taking care of our spiritual life as we do in caring for our worldly possessions. St. John Chrysostom makes the bold claim that if we have two coats, one of those costs has been stolen from the poor. This is not easy for me to hear when I have 18+ coats. He goes on to say that riches are a loan from God that are to be deposited with the poor so that we might receive a hundredfold reward, for they will be our friends in the eternal habitations.
Readings: Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113:1-2, 4-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13.
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