Why did Jesus praise the dishonest steward? (Sunday homily)

 The parable Jesus told is confusing in some ways. 

But here's the key point: 

Jesus is telling us to have the right approach 

to money, and stuff, and material success.

Let's compare the worldly way with God's way:

The worldly way is to use people to gain success and money;

God's way is to use money and position to gain people – 

that is, for the Kingdom.

One of the principles our Church teaches 

in the category of social justice 

is "the universal destination of goods." 

What does that mean?

It means that while we may own this or that thing, 

ultimately, everything belongs to God; 

and God gave everything in Creation for all his children to enjoy.

Think of a family. Mom passes out slices of pizza to everyone. 

He intends everyone to get some. 

What happens when Mom or Dad looks up 

and sees one child has three slices, and two have none?

God doesn't intervene the way my parents, or yours, would. 

But he sees, and he will hold us accountable.

Now, the point is not socialism, 

because that just lets people in government play god, 

and they make a mess of it. 

Rather, the point is that you and I help 

every one of God's children get a fair chance. 

And while my pizza analogy works for a household, 

It doesn’t work for understanding the resources of our world.

Many people mistakenly argue that our world is resource-poor,

and that we have too many people. 

First, it is simply not true that our world is lacking in resources.

This is a good and abundant world. 

It is a worldly way of thinking to say, there are too many people.

God never says that.

Remember the large, hungry crowds following Jesus?

The disciples voiced the worldly mindset when they said, 

“send them away.”

Second, that “too many people” mentality fails to grasp 

that people, themselves, are the greatest resource of all. 

It took human ingenuity to turn mold, that grows on cheese, 

into a revolutionary life-saving medicine: penicillin.

Lots of places in our world are poor, not for lack of resources,

But because of conflict and corruption and roadblocks to opportunity. 

God gave us the gift of human intellect, guided by conscience,

so we can work together to share our abundance 

for the sake of human well-being. 

Let's get back to how we approach our stuff and our plans.

It is good to be a go-getter; and to seek financial security.

But the key question we might ask is...

What is it all for?

What will I do with my success, and whatever stuff I acquire?

What Jesus praised was not the dishonesty of the steward,

But his prudence in using stuff to create relationships, 

For the sake of his future.

And Jesus’ point is this:

What makes sense to do in a worldly way,

Makes even more sense to do in light of eternity.

The crooked steward was thinking about his future. 

What about your eternal future? 

The best use of our stuff, Jesus tells us, 

is to gain people for the Kingdom?

If you have a house, you can welcome people.

If you have a car, you can give rides.

And whatever you have – money, stuff, talent, or time –

you can give it away.

Of course, the most important “thing” to give away is…yourself.

You and I can do a lot of good with stuff; but it is giving ourselves, 

creating relationships, that makes the most difference.

We talk a lot about “stewardship,” but that’s all it really is.

None of our stuff will be with us in heaven.

But we can bring people.