The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that we have gifts of cleverness and planning that should be used in the Spirit to exercise piety, study, and action in our environment.
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Romans presents his reason for writing so boldly.
* [15:14–33] Paul sees himself as apostle and benefactor in the priestly service of the gospel and so sketches plans for a mission in Spain, supported by those in Rome.
* [15:14] Full of goodness: the opposite of what humanity was filled with according to Rom 1:29–30.
* [15:19] Illyricum: Roman province northwest of Greece on the eastern shore of the Adriatic.
* [15:20] I aspire: Paul uses terminology customarily applied to philanthropists. Unlike some philanthropists of his time, Paul does not engage in cheap competition for public acclaim. This explanation of his missionary policy is to assure the Christians in Rome that he is also not planning to remain in that city and build on other people’s foundations (cf. 2 Cor 10:12–18). However, he does solicit their help in sending him on his way to Spain, which was considered the limit of the western world. Thus Paul’s addressees realize that evangelization may be understood in the broader sense of mission or, as in Rom 1:15, of instruction within the Christian community that derives from the gospel.
* [15:21] The citation from Is 52:15 concerns the Servant of the Lord. According to Isaiah, the Servant is first of all Israel, which was to bring the knowledge of Yahweh to the nations. In Rom 9–11 Paul showed how Israel failed in this mission. Therefore, he himself undertakes almost singlehandedly Israel’s responsibility as the Servant and moves as quickly as possible with the gospel through the Roman empire. (Romans, CHAPTER 15, n.d.)
Psalm 98 praises the Judge of the World.
* [Psalm 98] A hymn, similar to Ps 96, extolling God for Israel’s victory (Ps 98:1–3). All nations (Ps 98:4–6) and even inanimate nature (Ps 98:7–8) are summoned to welcome God’s coming to rule over the world (Ps 98:9). (Psalms, PSALM 98, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches the Parable of the Dishonest Manager.
* [16:1–8a] The parable of the dishonest steward has to be understood in the light of the Palestinian custom of agents acting on behalf of their masters and the usurious practices common to such agents. The dishonesty of the steward consisted in the squandering of his master’s property (Lk 16:1) and not in any subsequent graft. The master commends the dishonest steward who has forgone his own usurious commission on the business transaction by having the debtors write new notes that reflected only the real amount owed the master (i.e., minus the steward’s profit). The dishonest steward acts in this way in order to ingratiate himself with the debtors because he knows he is being dismissed from his position (Lk 16:3). The parable, then, teaches the prudent use of one’s material goods in light of an imminent crisis. (Luke, CHAPTER 16, n.d.)
John Shea, S.J. (2015) recalls his mother when faced with a long list of chores at home, and feeling overwhelmed by the demands of her three kids, would often exclaim in exasperation, “My life is not my own!”
I think that irrational and foolish love is the same kind of love my own mother, a widow and single parent raising three kids, modeled for me. I like to think that it’s the same kind of love I live out as a Jesuit priest and biologist. No matter what our vocation is, if we are leading authentic Christian lives, then our lives will not be our own. Instead, we will live and die for the Lord. We will lead lives of irrational and insane love for one another.
Today commemorates the International Day of Vocations in the Society of Jesus. (Shea, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus recommends the foresight, prudence, and ingenuity of the steward,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Why did the Lord Jesus Christ present this parable to us? He surely did not approve of that cheat of a servant who cheated his master, stole from him and did not make it up from his own pocket. On top of that, he also did some extra pilfering. He caused his master further loss, in order to prepare a little nest of quiet and security for himself after he lost his job. Why did the Lord set this before us? It is not because that servant cheated but because he exercised foresight for the future. When even a cheat is praised for his ingenuity, Christians who make no such provision blush. I mean, this is what he added, 'Behold, the children of this age are more prudent than the children of light.' They perpetrate frauds in order to secure their future. In what life, after all, did that steward insure himself like that? What one was he going to quit when he bowed to his master's decision? He was insuring himself for a life that was going to end. Would you not insure yourself for eternal life?" (excerpt from 359A.10.) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Romans 15:14-21 comments that when Paul, or any one of us, uses our gifts and achieves something praiseworthy, God is glorified. As St. Ireneaus said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” So when we do what we were made for, we give glory to God. And when we receive recognition for it, we can give glory to God as well. God made us shine like a light in the darkness so that people would see our good works and rejoice in the One who is at work in us (Matthew 5:16). So when people notice, that’s our chance to boast in what pertains to God.
Paul had unique gifts that enabled him to live out his mission. He offered all he was to the Lord, and God used him to do great things. God has given you gifts, too! He wants you to help build his kingdom. So when someone recognizes your gifts or your contributions, no matter how small or large, accept it and give glory to God!
“Lord, I will boast in you. Thank you for all that you have done in and through me!” (Meditation on Romans 15:14-21, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the approach of Paul writing to a community that he has not visited to establish friendly connections. Paul is seeking good reviews from Rome while on his way to Jerusalem in light of the reception of his from the Galatians. Friar Jude notes the benefit of cleverness in a community under an occupying power that this parable underlines.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, presents the conscious choice we can make to share the grace that God freely gives.
While karma is not primarily monetary, I must honestly say karma applies to money, as well. Our attitudes toward earning, giving, losing, and receiving money are about as good a measure for our giving and receiving of love as anything I know. The opposite is also true. Stingy with love, stingy with money. Generous with love, generous with money. Circumspect with love, circumspect with money. In a general sense, we are either flow people or dam (!) people. [1]
I am convinced Jesus taught from a karmic worldview. “You cannot pick grapes from thorns or figs from thistles. A good tree will bear good fruit,” he said, “and a bad tree will bear bad fruit” (Matthew 7:17–18). Jesus also said, “If you show mercy, mercy will be shown to you” (Matthew 5:7; Luke 6:37) and “The standard you use will be used for you” (Mark 4:24).
Jesus sought to create a deep sense of personal choice, responsibility, and freedom in the here and now, and not just disconnected payoffs in the afterlife. But we have understood much of the gospel in terms of divine threats and artificial rewards—a delayed schedule of merits and demerits. This deeply distorted the gospel’s transformative message. (Rohr, 2023)
We live in a society and culture that requires us to seek the help of the Spirit to follow Jesus Way using our gifts mindfully, and with forethought, to navigate the roadblocks to full life in our time.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 16. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/16?1
Meditation on Romans 15:14-21. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 10, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/11/10/824742/
Psalms, PSALM 98. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/98?1
Rohr, R. (2023, November 10). Allowing the Flow — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 10, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/allowing-the-flow/
Romans, CHAPTER 15. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 10, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/15?14
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 10, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=nov10
Shea, J. (2023, November 10). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 10, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/111023.html
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