November 6, 2009

Gospel
Lk 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.

It is rainy, and I am getting ready to go up to the Haight and then back to Polk. I spent the morning resting, went to the food bank. Last night was busy with the meal and then I hit the sack when I got home. 

Today's Gospel reminds me to be a good steward. Money given to me is to be used wisely, and I do use it wisely.  The steward knew how to use money for his purpose. People often are amazed at how much I accomplish in such a small space and with so little, but what it takes is the willingness to give of one's self, and to adapt, as this steward did.  I am clear you do not have to have a lot of money to do ministry, to build a large structure,  to strategize, you just do it. I was talking with a friend who is basically looking for something to do in ministry, but he is searching and seems to be going from one thing to another and I told him ultimagely you just do it. I do it no matter how I feel, no matter how low I feel, or how little I have, i do the work.  It is not about us to begin with, it is about Jesus. Deo Gratis! Thanks be to God!