TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR: THE SMART SERVANT (Luke 16:1-13)

An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean that he has come to reward him for his years of devoted service. He was asked to choose one of three blessings: either infinite wealth, or infinite fame or infinite wisdom. Without hesitation, the dean asks for infinite wisdom. “You got it!” says the angel, and disappears. All heads turn toward the dean, who sits glowing in the aura of wisdom. Finally one of his colleagues whispers, “Say something.” The dean looks at them and says, “I should have taken the money.”

Wisdom, in the sense of being smart or shrewd as we see in today’s parable of the dishonest servant, is not an end in itself. One can be smart and use one’s smartness to do mean things. Many con artists and terrorists are smart people who use their smartness to create unhappiness in the world. Today’s parable challenges us to be smart in the pursuit of the kingdom of God just as godless people are smart in their pursuit of selfish goals and ambitions. Jesus uses the example of a smart manager in his master’s business to teach us the need to be smart in the Lord’s service. We are challenged to imitate the manager’s shrewdness, not his dishonesty. “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly” (Luke 16:8).

Why did the master who had made up his mind to fire the manager now commend him? Probably the manager had been running his master’s business in a drab, routine and lifeless manner devoid of creativity and imagination. As a result the business was failing, so the master decides it is time to fire him: “Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer” (verse 2). The manager is facing a real danger of being dismissed from service. He knows the seriousness of the situation. He is not kidding himself. He knows exactly how helpless he is out there. He says 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” (verse 3). He knows he is in a very difficult and precarious situation. He scratches his head and comes up with this ingenious plan to safeguard his future. The master praises him because if the manager had been using such smart thinking in the daily running of the business he would have made a much more successful manager rather than a failure.

The parable challenges us all to be smart managers. Me a manager, you say? Yes, we are all called to be managers. God has entrusted the whole of His creation into our hands as His managers. Jesus Christ, in addition, entrusts the kingdom of God – the kingdom of love, justice and peace – into our hands as his managers. World peace and harmony, and the renewal of all things in Christ, are the business of us all, collectively and individually. Jesus calls it the kingdom of God. Our business as followers of Christ, non-ordained as well as ordained believers, is to help bring about the kingdom of God starting from our own selves. We have all been given the necessary resources to do this. We have been equipped with the truth of faith, we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts, and we have been given time. Sooner or later we shall all be called upon to render an account of how we have invested and managed these resources.

Events in our world show that we live in difficult and precarious times, like the manager in the parable. The manager faced squarely the truth of his helplessness and vulnerability and did something about it. Why do we keep on telling ourselves the lie that we are safe and secure and that nothing can ever happen to us? We do not have to wait, like the dishonest servant, for a last minute display of smartness to fix our eternal concerns. The time to be smart is now. The smart manager used what he could not keep to get what he needed so badly, friendship with his business associates. We should likewise invest all our temporal and spiritual resources to gain the only thing that matters in the end: the kingdom of God.

ALPHA AND OMEGA DAY 9, GENESIS 8

The story of the flood is brought to a conclusion in today’s text. God has been true to his word: he punished sinful humanity and, saved Noah (an upright man) and his household. 

REFLECTION

• Have you ever embarked on a long journey without stops? How was the feeling when you finally arrived at the destination? Our answer to this question will help us to understand the offering which Noah made to God when he finally came out of the ark with his household and the animals. God does a lot for us day after day. He watches over us while we sleep; he guards us from evil in our going and coming; he makes us pass our exam; he provides our food and air for breathing. Like Noah, do we show gratitude to God for what he does for us, or do we see ourselves as deserving of such blessings?

• The author presents the sacrifice of Noah as pleasing to God and, God promised not to curse the earth again since he knew human beings and their inclination to sin. It is not as if God changed his mind because Noah’s offering pleased him. Rather, the author wishes to show that God knows us through and through. Do we see ourselves as holy and others sinful? Jesus has forever delivered us from slavery to sin, but we still have the inclination to sin. We cannot hide from God. We must therefore surrender ourselves to him so that he will guide in his ways (Ps 139:1, 23-24)

• In the midst of all the consequences of human sin, God still sustains the world he created. “Day and night will never cease” is to make us aware that God is still in control of the world. We can apply this to ourselves also in another sense. Thus, no matter what we’re going through, we must always remember that our Father has got the whole world in his hand, and he will make all things beautiful in his own time.

May the Lord bless and keep all of us, Amen.

ALPHA AND OMEGA, DAY 8: GENESIS 7

In today’s text, the story of the flood is continued. Noah, after having finished with the construction of the ark, is directed by God to get into it with his household and all kinds of creatures as indicated by the biblical author. The outstanding divine truth revealed through the text is that God saves and blesses those who are faithful to him.

REFLECTION

• God found Noah to be the only one among his contemporaries who was upright. The author presents God as punishing all other creatures apart from Noah and his household. Thus, through Noah’s faithfulness to God his whole household was saved. What about us? Are we the cause of joy/blessing for our families, friends, communities, etc. or are we the cause of shame and troubles?

• Did we not learn from our previous reflection in this journey that God said he would allow only 120 years as the length of human existence (Gen 6:3)? How come in this text Noah is said to be 600 years? Well, it is a way of showing that punishment is reserved for the wicked and not the just. For, God rewards the upright (cf. Ps 11:7).

• The story of the flood could be applied to the Sacrament of Baptism. From the text, God destroyed sinful humanity with water. In the same way, through baptism, our sinful old self is destroyed so that we attain a newness of life in Christ. In baptism, we die with Christ to rise with him as new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17).

• As we go about our everyday life, let us always remember that we could be channels of blessings for others, just as Noah was for his family. Let us remember to shun evil in order to work out our salvation (Phi 2:12) .

May the Lord bless and keep all of us, Amen.

IN SPANISH (En Español)

En el texto de hoy, se continúa la historia de la inundación. Noé, después de haber terminado con la construcción del arca, está dirigida por Dios para entrar en ella con su familia y todo tipo de criaturas como indica el autor bíblico. La verdad divina revelada en circulación a través del texto es que Dios salva y bendice a los que son fieles a él.

REFLEXIÓN

• Dios encontró a Noé para ser el único entre sus contemporáneos que era recto. El autor presenta a Dios como castigo de todas las demás criaturas, aparte de Noé y su familia. Por lo tanto, a través de la fidelidad de Dios a Noé se salvó toda su casa. ¿Qué pasa con nosotros? ¿Somos la causa de la alegría / bendición para nuestras familias, amigos, comunidades, etc, o somos la causa de la vergüenza y problemas?

• ¿Acaso no aprendemos de nuestra reflexión anterior, en este viaje que Dios dijo que permitiría a sólo 120 años, como la duración de la existencia humana (Gen 6:03)? ¿Cómo es que en este texto Noé se dice que 600 años? Bueno, es una forma de mostrar que el castigo está reservado para los malvados y no a los justos. Pues, Dios recompensa a los justos (cf. Sal 11:7).

• La historia de la inundación se podría aplicar al Sacramento del Bautismo. A partir del texto, Dios destruyó a la humanidad pecadora con agua. De la misma manera, a través del bautismo, nuestro viejo hombre de pecado sea destruido para que alcancemos una vida nueva en Cristo. En el Bautismo, morimos con Cristo para resucitar con él como nuevas criaturas (2 Cor. 5:17).

• A medida que avanzamos en nuestro día a día, recordemos siempre que podemos ser canales de bendición para otros, al igual que Noé, su familia. Recordemos a rechazar el mal, a fin de trabajar por nuestra salvación (Filipenses 2:12).

Que el Señor no bendiga y no guarde a todos, Amen.

ALPHA AND OMEGA, DAY 7 (GENESIS 6)

The author of the text which we are considering today wishes to draw our attention to the increasing rate of evil/sin in human history as ages passed. He presents the doom of evil doers and the salvation of the just using the story of the flood.

REFLECTION

• In describing the increasing rate of immorality, the author used words such as “daughters”, “women”, “children” and “sons of God” in reference to the human race. Genesis 6:3 attests that indeed the author was talking about human beings and not some super humans as we usually imagine. Have we so far noted that not all biblical stories are to be taken literally?

• In the text, God, who saw that all he had made was very good (cf. Gen 1:31), is presented as having regretted creating human beings. Has this ever struck us in any way? How often have we not been disappointed with our own selves? Could God be said to be like us in that regard?

• Well, “God regretted” was the author’s way of showing that God is holy and just, but human beings are unfaithful. “God regretted”, as used in the text, therefore does not in any way imply that God changed his mind; for God is always faithful to his word (cf. 1Sam15:29), and he is always merciful to those who repent of their sins and return to him with all their hearts (cf. Jer 26:1-3). God therefore cannot regret as we understand it!

• The story of the flood demonstrates that God saves those who remain faithful to him. We are often attracted to act the way all others around us do. However, one thing we must always ask ourselves is this: is what am doing pleasing to God? Let’s note, we must not follow the crowd because we can get lost with the crowd. Rom 12:2 should be our guide.

May the Lord bless and keep all of us, Amen.

ALPHA AND OMEGA, DAY SIX: GENESIS 5

Today, our text for reflection focuses on a more detailed account of the descendants of Adam. Apart from Cain, Abel, Seth and others whom we have encountered in previous texts, some other descendants, from different generations are given.

REFLECTION

• The first thing we must note, as I have tried to indicate in the previous reflection, is that the inspired author of this text does not seek to give an accurate account of human history. Rather, he seeks to establish how God abides and operates in human history. 

• The text takes us back to the creation of the first human being by God. From speaking of Adam, an individual (…he made him), the author immediately ends up talking about male and female (…he created them; he blessed them). According to the author, God called both the male and female “Adam” (man/human beings). Thus, in this text, the name Adam is used in both its generic and individualistic sense. We must therefore note that both males and females are created in the image and likeness of God. None is superior to the other. Have we felt superior or inferior to others because of our gender?

• Adam is said to have given birth to a son in his likeness. Thus, God’s nature which he bestowed on our first parents was passed on to future generations. Thus, even now, we who are living are still in the image and likeness of God. If God’s nature was passed on from our first parents to their descendants, how difficult is it to understand that the consequence of their sin was also passed on to all other human beings?

• From the text, we see that the span of our ancestors’ life was lengthy. Even though the ages given may not be actual what the author makes us aware that our ancestors lived longer, though they died in the end.

• Also, from the text, we can see that the ages kept falling and falling with the movement from one generation to the other. Does it have any significance for us? Yes. What it means is that as time goes on, the length of days of the human person diminished more and more due to the increase in grave sins. What do we see in our own days? Are people not dying at tender ages? Do we not see greater and more serious sins being committed here and there? Let’s take a clue: Deut 30:19-20

TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR: THE WORST SINNER BECOMES THE GREATEST APOSTLE (1 Tim 1:12-32)

When we Catholics, come together for worship, we usually begin with calling to mind our sinfulness. Examination of conscience and acknowledgment of sin is part and parcel of our daily prayer and devotions. Now some Christians of the I’m-okay-you’re-okay school of spirituality raise the issue that constant consciousness of one’s sinfulness could lead to low self-image and self-hate. Some people are so preoccupied with the sins they committed in the past, or the sinful habits they have in the present, that they become spiritually immobilized and morose, no longer able to celebrate life. This is unfortunate. Awareness of our sinfulness, when done in the right spirit, is a most healthy and empowering spiritual exercise. In today’s second reading from his First Letter to Timothy, Paul accuses himself to be the chief of sinners: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the foremost” (1 Timothy 1:15). Awareness of his sinfulness did not lead Paul to low self-esteem or depression. It led him to a vibrant life of gratitude and praise to God, and humility toward God and neighbour in his ministry.

Paul starts off with a joyful hymn of praise and thanksgiving: “I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service” (verse 12). Because he knows he is a sinner, Paul is able to see anything good in his life not as a personal achievement but as the grace of God at work in him. For this he gives God continual thanks and praise. People who are not aware of their sinfulness tend to think that the good things in their lives are a result of their personal goodness and holiness. Before they know it, they slip into a hypocritical better-than-thou attitude which makes them look with disdain on those who are not as good as they are. Jesus condemned this pharisaical hypocrisy more than any other sin because it is the highest form of spiritual self-deception. The more we realize our utter sinfulness as Paul does, the more we appreciate the amazing grace of God in our lives. Our lives then become, like Paul’s, a continual act of praise and thanksgiving to God who judges us faithful in spite of our unfaithfulness.

Awareness of our sins is just one side of the coin. Looking continually only at this one side is enough to depress anybody. But we should look also at the other side of the coin every time we call to mind our sins. This other side is God’s mercy and forgiveness: “But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief” (verse 13). Jesus prayed for his killers saying that they did not know what they were doing (Luke 23:34). If those who killed the Son of God could be forgiven because they acted in ignorance, then every human sin could be forgiven because there is an element of ignorance that clouds our spiritual and moral insight at the moment of sin. Judas betrayed Jesus. When he became aware of his sins, he did not recall God’s mercy. So he gave in to despair and committed suicide. Peter also denied Jesus. When he became aware of his sins he recalled God’s infinite mercy. So he repented and became a saint. Awareness of our sinfulness must always include awareness of God’s mercy.

There is a saying of Jesus which Luke loves so much that he records it twice: “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 14:11; 18:14). Humility is indispensable in true Christian spirituality and nothing is more humbling than an awareness of our sins, the various ways in which we have failed God, our neighbour and ourselves. Humility makes us more effective channels of God’s love. Just as a recovered addict can minister more effectively to an active addict, so can a forgiven sinner minister more effectively to active sinners. Reflecting on his sinfulness and on how God continues to forgive and trust him, Paul can now tell his life story as “an example to those who would come to believe in him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16). What God has done for me and in me, Paul would say to sinners, He can also do for you and in you. Maybe we can become better witnesses of God’s love in our world today when we see ourselves as forgiven sinners inviting other sinners to come on and received God’s forgiveness as we have done, rather than presenting ourselves as holy people trying to save poor sinners on the way to hell.

TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR: MERCY THAT TRIUMPHS OF JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS (Luke 15:1-32)

After going through the story of the Prodigal Son, a Sunday school teacher asked the kids, “At the end of the story who is it that ended up in the worst situation?” One of the kids shot up her hands and answered, “The fatted cow.” The animal-loving child was certainly correct, but the answer the teacher probably expected was “The elder son.”

There are three main characters in the Parable of the Prodigal Son: the father, the younger son, and the elder son. The younger son is a volatile, impatient, easily bored, ready-to-try-everything teenager. He collects his inheritance, goes abroad to see the world, and squanders his birthright in loose living. He represents every sinner. In sin we squander our human and divine birthright and in the end we are no better than in the beginning. Sin promises us a life of happiness, satisfaction and excitement but in the end all we get out of it is misery, wretchedness, dissatisfaction, depression, and a loss of the sense of personal dignity that belongs to us as God’s children. The good news is that no matter how deeply the sinner sinks into sin, there is always a still, silent inner voice within us inviting us to come back to our Father’s house where true freedom and satisfaction is to be found.

Then there is the father who is so loving that he lets his rascally son have whatever he wanted. In fact we can say he even spoils the boy. We have this image of God as a very stern, demanding father who is always ready to whip us into line. This is very far from the image of God we have in this parable. Here God is presented as a tender loving father who is easy on his children, and who is always ready to forgive, no matter what. If this is how God relates to us, then we can see that God possesses the tender-loving quality of mother as well as the tough-loving quality of father.

And finally there is the elder son who is introduced towards the end of the story. If you want to describe the elder son by one word you would call him a gentleman. He is a man of honour, solid, hard-working, consistent, disciplined, and sober — a perfect gentleman. In the elder son we see the virtues, as well as the vices, of middle class morality. What are the vices of middle class morality? Arrogance, better-than-thou attitude, intolerance toward those who do not meet up to our standards, insensitivity and a spirit of unforgiveness. The elder son exhibits these vices in the way he refuses to welcome his lost and found brother, his father’s explanation and invitation notwithstanding. He must have his pound of flesh. For him it is a matter of justice, but for God that is nothing but self-centeredness and unwillingness to forgive.

The first son syndrome is very much alive among us. Do you remember the execution on February 3, 1998 of Karla Faye Tucker. Karla was, to all appearances, a repentant murderer. At the moment of her execution there were two groups of people outside the Texas state prison in Huntsville: a group protesting her execution, who were there praying for her, and a group demanding her execution, who were there cheering and jeering as she was hanged. The praying group was calling for love and mercy and the cheering group was calling for justice. The parable of the Prodigal Son reminds us today that for God love and compassion takes precedence over blind justice.

We often confuse puritanism for Christianity. To be puritanical is to be scrupulously demanding in religious conduct and morals. For such a person the number one virtue is discipline. To be a Christian, on the other hand, is to profess and live according to the example and teaching of Christ. Here the primary virtue is love and compassion. As Christians we believe in a God of love and compassion. Jesus was a man of love of compassion both in his teachings and in his dealings with others. The challenge for us Christians today is to be people of love and compassion, to be like the prodigal father in the parable and not like the uncompromising elder son in a world full of prodigal sons and daughters.