Homily Cycle II 11/06/2020
Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110620.cfm
In the first century, the master did not pay the steward a wage. The steward made his money by adding his fees onto the bills of his master's debtors. [Similar to a Debt Collector today]
The debtor receives the bill from the steward, he does not know what amount on the bill belongs to the master and what amount belonged to the steward, only the steward would know.
When the debtors would pay their bill to the steward, the steward would pocket his portion of the bill & then give the remaining money to his master. The steward is asked by the rich man to give an accounting of his stewardship.
The steward was placing extraordinarily high fees on the bills. When he found out he was going to be fired, he took the debtors bills and reduced them. Thereby gaining favor with them.
The story, “When Shrewdness Wins the Day”, can help understand today’s Gospel. A farmer in India many years ago had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to the village moneylender.
The moneylender fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter, so he proposed a deal. He would forgive the debt if he could marry his daughter. He said he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty bag. The girl would reach in and pick one.
If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble, she need not marry him, and the debt would still be forgiven. If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail until the debt was paid.
The moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles, (the girl noticed that he picked up two black pebbles); he placed both of them in the bag and then he asked her to pick one. She put her hand into the bag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path, where it became lost among all the other pebbles. “Oh, how clumsy of me … But never mind, if you look into the bag there is one left; you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”
Since the remaining pebble was black, everyone would assume that she picked the white one; the moneylender would not dare admit his dishonesty. The young lady’s wit and cunning won the day. (Sermons com., 9/22/13)
We are called not to be dishonest; God wants us to use our gifts to build up His Kingdom here on earth. That is what God wants you to do, use the Gifts you have been given to build God’s Kingdom here on earth.
Reflect, for a few minutes, on how you can use your gifts to build up God’s Kingdom.
May God Be Praised!
COVID 19 Pandemic Prayer
Hear my cry! “Lord, listen to my prayer: turn your ear to my appeal.” You are my refuge and my hope, I turn to you during this COVID 19 Pandemic and plead for Your intercession. In Your mercy and Your compassion “… grant eternal rest to the dead, comfort to mourners, healing to the sick ….”
[Psalm 143 and Collect from Mass Time in Pandemic]
Provide strength to the first responders, compassion to the medical personnel, and wisdom to government leaders. End this coronavirus scourge. Send Your light to me as I wander in the darkness of this pandemic and give me hope in Your eternal love today and every day. Amen.
[Dcn. George Kelly]
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