Shrewd children

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today are invitations to contemplate the relationship between our work and the mission of God. The bold words of Paul in the Letter to the Romans may seem to be filled with boasting self praise. Friar Jude Winkler comments that the words are addressed to a community who have already been evangelized by Jewish Christians from Jerusalem. The words of Paul are sharing faith rather than instructing his audience. In that respect he is in harmony with the psalmist who finds that the steadfast Love and faithfulness of God have been the source of Life for all. In the energy of this Life, Paul has frenetically preached to much of the civilized world, in the sincere belief of the imminent last days. Today's passage from the Gospel from Luke has received many interpretations by religious commentators. George Butterfield of Creighton University cites a Quaker theologian, Elton Trueblood, who proposed that Jesus was simply joking. The energy and cleverness that the steward applies to the business of administration of the master’s goods is paralleled in the activity of Paul as Apostle to the Gentiles. Father Roberto Donato (Lectio Divina Sept 19 2013) points out that the dishonest administrator converts to action of distributing the riches of the master, which like the gifts of God, cannot be held for gain in our bigger barns. Jesus will declare the opposition of riches, food and money to the direction we are called to move by the Gospel. Friar Jude and many commentators understand the message here for followers of Christ to be as clever and energetic in living and giving Love as many of the shrewd and intelligent are in taking care of other business.