Sunday 25 C (2016)

Today's gospel is in two parts,

parts which are less related than they appear at first sight.

First we have the tale of a steward

seeking to insure his future, in the face of the sack.

I don't think this is a parable.

It isn't a teaching about God, or morality.

Jesus is simply observing, through an illustrative story,

that people can sometimes be

pretty creative, and focussed, on securing what they want.

We know this is true,

and I am sure you can provide contemporary examples.

Out of this observation,

springs the teaching which concludes the first part.

The children of this world

are more astute in dealing with their own kind

than are the children of light.

An exhortation for us to be

creative and focussed, astute, in our mission:

our mission to be children of light for the world.

Today is Home Mission Sunday,

an additional stimulus to reflection on how we are doing,

individually and as a parish, on this score.

Before turning to the second half of today's gospel,

I just want to leave the question hanging:

what does it mean for us to be 'astute' in our sharing,

in action and word, the good news that is Jesus?

Last week we had the whole of chapter 15 of Luke's gospel –

wonderful parables about the nature of God:

God rejoices at the return of the 'lost':

taught through the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin

and the lost son.

After the story of the steward,

the rest of today's gospel draws attention to one way we can be lost.

We can be lost because of our attitude to money.

You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.

In this passage, 'money' doesn't mean 'cash',

or the contents of our current account,

or our disposable income.

It does cover this, but it is also the 'stuff' we have, ...

or want.

So, to let this passage speak to us,

we have to take a realistic look

at the whole range of material things we have,

or want.

Most of us can easily conclude we have things we don't need:

that, in a modern phrase, our lives need de-cluttering.

For today's gospel that really isn't the point.

We have to look at the things we reckon we 'need',

that we, in various ways, rely on.

Maybe house, furnishings, television, car, computers, smart phone, …

We have to wonder whether, for us,

they have become important in themselves.

In other words, we ask,

why do I have this stuff,

what is it for?

In the first reading

the prophet Amos rails against those who exploit the poor,

who trample on the needy.

This is a stark reminder that we should also ask:

where does our stuff come from,

is there justice for those who produce it?

So: where does my ‘stuff’ come from, and what is it for?

Jesus came to bring life, true life.

True life is about good relationships:

about a good relationship with God

and good relationships with others.

The only proper purpose of 'stuff' is to assist the formation,

and the maintenance, of these good relations.

Relations based in generosity, not calculation.

That is the test we have to bring to bear on our 'stuff'.

Does it build good relationships, or does it get in the way?

Good relationships with those who produce it,

good relationships with those around us.

In our good, loving, relationships we possess genuine riches,

riches that have a place in the tents of eternity.

At life's end we leave 'stuff' behind,

but love persists.