Sunday, September 21, 2025

Dishonest Steward (2025-09-21, Sunday-25th)

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[homily Sept.21]   

Homily on Luke 16:1–8: The Dishonest Steward. (September 21)

The parable Jesus gives us today is one of the most puzzling in the Gospels. A steward, caught mismanaging his master’s property, quickly reduces people’s debts in order to gain their friendship. And yet, the master praises him—not for his dishonesty, but for his cleverness, his shrewdness.

Jesus is not telling us that cheating is good. Augustine and other Church Fathers are very clear: deceit is never holy, never justified. The steward is praised for his worldly cleverness, but in the eyes of God his actions fall short.

What, then, is Jesus teaching us? That if people go to such lengths to secure material well-being and self-preservation, shouldn’t we, with even more energy, zeal, and creativity, strive for what really matters—our eternal salvation and treasure in heaven?

A Modern Story

To bring this home, imagine this:

There was once a master carpenter, known far and wide for the quality of his work. After many years, he was ready to retire and spend his days quietly with his family. His employer, a long-time friend, asked him for one last favor: “Build me one more house.”

The carpenter agreed, but his heart wasn’t in it. He cut corners, used cheaper materials, and rushed the work. When he finished, he handed over the keys, not proud of what he had done.

Then came the surprise. His boss smiled and said, “This house is my gift to you.” The carpenter was stunned. He realized that the house he would now live in every day was the one he had built carelessly.

Isn’t that a parable for our lives? We are each building the “house” of our eternal destiny. If we live carelessly, cutting corners spiritually—neglecting prayer, skimping on love, living for ourselves—we may find that what we have built is not what we hoped for.

 

 

Doing Well and Doing Good

Jesus is not against doing well in life. He knows we need food, shelter, health, and security. But He insists that our greatest energy should be spent not on feathering our own nest but on doing good that lasts into eternity.

Worldly shrewdness may win short-term approval, but it cannot buy eternal reward. True Christian prudence is not about clever self-preservation but about transparent honesty and generous love. As Augustine put it, love means willing the good of the other. The dishonest steward’s actions barely reach that standard—he is still thinking mainly of himself.

 

Stewardship in Daily Life

This wisdom applies not only to business dealings but to every corner of our lives, especially marriage and family. A husband and wife are called to serve each other, not just to compromise but to seek together God’s will. That is why we say marriage is not 50/50 but 100/100—each giving fully, each stewarding not only material needs but the spiritual path of the family.

 

Family life, like the carpenter’s house, is something we build day by day. If we cut corners—neglecting prayer, taking each other for granted, living only for ourselves—the “house” may stand, but it will not be what God intended. If, instead, we pour ourselves into it with generosity and love, then we will discover, in the end, that Christ Himself has been building with us, preparing us for our eternal home.

Conclusion

So today’s parable challenges us. If people can be so determined to secure a temporary future, how much more determined should we be to secure an eternal one?

Let us not be careless stewards, but wise ones. Let us invest our time, our love, our resources in what lasts forever. Let us make Christ Himself our steward, our mediator, the one who guides our every choice. For He alone can lead us to the home where no dishonesty, no corner-cutting, no short-term gain remains—only the joy of eternal friendship with Him. Amen.

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