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The Parable of the Unjust Steward ~ Eighteenth Sunday

September 18, 2016

Introduction

Our culture contains various images of what God is like, ranging from an angry

Score Keeper in the Sky, tallying up wrongs, or a Santa Claus who is handing out

presents for good behavior, and then there is the God who is unbelievable and simply

unimportant today. (Rohr, 2016.) The result is a people walking around with a hole in

the soul, angry, disenchanted, confused, and afraid. We see a people who are seeking

but not finding, falling prey to politicians, marketing firms, big box stores, and drug

lords corporate and illegal who prey on our emptiness and fears. There is a dis-ease

that is spread across our nation.

Today, the prophet Jeremiah shares with us a picture of YHWHs heart. YHWH

speaks of his broken heart ~ feelings of despair and deep sadness. The people of Israel

have strayed and he feels the pain of separation and longing. Their choices have

resulted in sickness (dis-ease) and this saddens YHWH as he longs for their healing and

wholeness.

The Unjust Steward

The Core of the Story

This parable is confusing as it seems that Jesus is applauding some unethical

behavior. But what he is doing is examining the values of those in the world versus

those in the Kingdom of God. Those in the world are often unscrupulous. In his story,
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even though the Rich Man is being cheated by the steward attempting to gain favors

from others after losing his job; he none the less admires his craftiness and initiative.

Energy and Initiative

Those in the world are quick, resourceful, and even aggressive in meeting their

goals. When it is necessary, most of us are not slow to act when it comes to dealing with

our physical and social goals. (Shea, 2006.) The way we use our money in the world is

often different than the way we use our resources in the Kingdom. Now this is not a

pitch for increased giving but is a challenge for us to think about what

matters most to us as demonstrated by our actions and time. It is a

challenge for us to see how consistent these are with what we say we

believe. It is a challenge for us to ask ourselves does our passion and

energy match up with our faith? If we are honest, most of us will find that like the

dishonest steward, we place much more energy and thought into our daily or secular

lives than we do the Kingdom of God. If so, are we saying that the kingdom of the world

~ Caesar, Corporations, etc. mean more to us than the Kingdom of God?

The Kingdom of God Shatters Our World

This is mind boggling when you think about it as what are the images that are

most before us but Caesar and the Consumer Gods? Everything is sacrificed

to them: our time, our energy, our money, the earth, and even our very

bodies/health.

This became so apparent to me as I reflect back on the memorial service we had

for my friend yesterday at Ft. Hill. We pulled into the parking lot to a canopy of trees,
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peace, and calm. There was a feel of simplicity, wholeness, and healing. Such quiet,

simplicity, healing, and wholeness are hallmarks of the Kingdom and so very opposite of

the world. It was being in the midst of the Holy and the Sacred.

We Cannot Serve Two Masters

This Kingdom that breaks and is breaking into our world shatters it ~ what we

think matters and is important; what we think will give us peace, wholeness, and

healing. Our culture ~ Caesar and the Consumer Gods trick us into believing they have

the answers but we bite and are left only hungering for more. Jesus tells us we

cannot serve God and money as we will love one and hate the other. I wonder

if we only serve money and success that we may, in the end, hate it as well.

Conclusion

Will take the lessons of Rabbi Jesus to heart? Will we listen, contemplate, and

consider the challenge he has placed before us today? Will we allow the Kingdom of

God burst into our hearts and minds today?