杏MAP导航

By Francesca Merlo

Before the recitation of the Marian Prayer, the 杏MAP导航 recalled the Sunday Gospel in which the protagonist is a cunning and unjust steward.

Accused of having squandered his master鈥檚 goods, the steward is about to be fired. Faced with this situation, he devises a way out to secure himself a peaceful future: he calls his master鈥檚 debtors and reduces their debts. His aim is to make friends with them, in hope of being rewarded in the future, when he is most in need.

Astute

The Pontiff commented that Jesus does not present this example 鈥渢o exhort dishonesty鈥�, but rather 鈥渁stuteness鈥�. That is, he explained, 鈥渨ith that mixture of intelligence and craftiness, which allows you to overcome difficult situations鈥�.

Dishonest wealth

The key to understand this story, said the 杏MAP导航, is Jesus鈥� invitation to 鈥渕ake friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings鈥�.

鈥淭his 鈥榙ishonest wealth鈥�", he continued, 鈥渋s money 鈥� sometimes also known as  the 鈥榙evil's dung鈥� 鈥� when we refer to material goods鈥�.

Walls

The pope explained that 鈥渨ealth can lead to building walls, to division and to discrimination鈥�. Jesus鈥� invitation to 'make friends' with wealth, is 鈥渁n invitation to know how to transform goods and riches into relationships, because people are worth more than things and count more than the riches possessed鈥�, said the 杏MAP导航.

As Jesus indicated that befriending these riches should lead to being 鈥渨elcomed into eternal dwellings鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 explained that 鈥渋f we are all able to transform riches into instruments of fraternity and solidarity, there will be not only God, but also those with whom we have shared鈥� what the Lord has placed in our hands.鈥�

Right your wrongs

杏MAP导航 Francis then went on to say that this passage in the Gospel also notes the unjust steward who 鈥渄riven out by his master鈥� asks himself 鈥渨hat will I do now?鈥�. Faced with our failures, said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥淛esus assures us that we are always in time to right your wrongs by doing good.鈥� Finally, the 杏MAP导航 urged that "whoever has caused tears, make someone happy; whoever has misappropriated, give to someone in need鈥�, because, he concluded, in this way 鈥渨e will be praised by the Lord鈥�.