Daily Retreat 11/10/06
2006 Nov 10 Fri: Leo the Great, pp, dr M
Phil 3: 17 – 4: 1/ Ps 121(122): 1-2. 3-4ab. 4cd-5/ Lk 16: 1-8
From today’s readings: “Our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.... Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.... For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”
A Light Parable
The Lord’s parables were presented to help His listeners with specific crucial insights. Consequently, we need to be careful about focusing on the intended insight, and not misread the parable as a divine endorsement of every detail of the story.
For example, in the parable of the dishonest steward, Jesus highlights the cunning and shrewdness of the main character, the cheating but crafty overseer who even wins the begrudging admiration of his defrauded master - we can almost hear him muttering, “That dang steward robbed me royally, but I must admit, he sure was clever about it!”
Yes, the worldly master in the parable commends his sly but unscrupulous steward, but note that Jesus Himself does not, in any way, praise that crooked steward, for that’s not the point of the parable. Instead, Jesus leads His listeners to an embarrassing insight: “the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”
Why do worldly people have more drive, and ingenuity, and persistence in pursuing their worldly goals than those who strive to follow the light of Truth? For not only does God promise His children much more than this world could ever give, but He also graciously provides His children with a superabundance of the means to realize His promises! So, if a shrewd steward can manage to slither out of a no-win predicament, then zealous Christian, with determination, concentration, and imagination, can certainly overcome any worldly obstacle to the sure-win illumination of the Lord’s light!
Phil 3: 17 – 4: 1/ Ps 121(122): 1-2. 3-4ab. 4cd-5/ Lk 16: 1-8
From today’s readings: “Our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.... Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.... For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”
A Light Parable
The Lord’s parables were presented to help His listeners with specific crucial insights. Consequently, we need to be careful about focusing on the intended insight, and not misread the parable as a divine endorsement of every detail of the story.
For example, in the parable of the dishonest steward, Jesus highlights the cunning and shrewdness of the main character, the cheating but crafty overseer who even wins the begrudging admiration of his defrauded master - we can almost hear him muttering, “That dang steward robbed me royally, but I must admit, he sure was clever about it!”
Yes, the worldly master in the parable commends his sly but unscrupulous steward, but note that Jesus Himself does not, in any way, praise that crooked steward, for that’s not the point of the parable. Instead, Jesus leads His listeners to an embarrassing insight: “the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”
Why do worldly people have more drive, and ingenuity, and persistence in pursuing their worldly goals than those who strive to follow the light of Truth? For not only does God promise His children much more than this world could ever give, but He also graciously provides His children with a superabundance of the means to realize His promises! So, if a shrewd steward can manage to slither out of a no-win predicament, then zealous Christian, with determination, concentration, and imagination, can certainly overcome any worldly obstacle to the sure-win illumination of the Lord’s light!
posted by FrPitstick | 11/10/2006
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