Daily Catholic Lectio
Friday, 10 November 2023
Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Romans 15:14-21. Luke 16:1-8
(F)utility of wealth
The futile wealth has utility value. The manager worked for wealth; now he makes wealth work for him.
The gospel reading contains the parable of the dishonest manager. The parable follows the parable of the lost son and is followed by Jesus’ instruction on using wealth and resources. In Luke’s gospel, wealth is often portrayed as an obstacle to discipleship. However, the current parable instructs that wealth can be used to one’s advantage.
When the dishonest manager was about to be removed by his master, he did three things:
(a) He accepts his vulnerability.
He will soon be jobless and homeless. Hard work (digging) and being at the mercy of someone else (begging) are not his cup of tea. A person who was strong with wealth is now made vulnerable on account of the wealth.
(b) He thinks of a third option.
He decides to earn the goodwill of the debtors. He makes the debtors indebted to him: ‘hundred jugs of oil become fifty and hundred containers of wheat become eighty.’
(c) He regains the goodwill of his master.
Though the manager was dishonest, he acted quickly and shrewdly. He knew how to make use of the riches.
The manager continues to squander his master’s property by being dishonest. The parable does not teach us to be dishonest.
What do we learn from this parable?
(a) Every problem has a solution.
We are often afraid of problems. To avoid problems, we play safe. The dishonest manager teaches us that every problem has a solution if we sit for a while and analyse it patiently. Not only in financial matters, but in life management, we need a lot of patience, planning, and anticipation. The dishonest manager was good at anticipating the consequences.
(b) Wisdom and wealth
Ecclesiastes teaches us that, as wisdom gives shelter, wealth gives shelter (cf. 7:12). Wealth comes to be at the service of the wise (but dishonest) manager. So far, the manager worked for wealth; now he makes wealth work for him.
(c) Utility of wealth
Though wealth is futile, it does have a utility value. The temporary wealth could be made to bring us eternal rewards. The manager uses the wealth of the master as an investment in people. He makes it a capital for goodwill.
Honesty and integrity are not to be compromised. However, we need to realise that financial resources are our servants, not our masters.
In the first reading, Saint Paul, as he concludes his exhortation to the Romans, writes to them about his Unique Selling Point. Paul considers his ministry of the proclamation of the word to be a priestly service. He says that he did not want to build on someone else’s foundation. The winners don’t move from one to two; they move from zero to one. Paul was a winner.
The dishonest manager who was pushed to zero becomes number one.
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The Catechism of the Catholic Church, instructing on the seventh commandment, ‘Do not steal,’ teaches us that the riches are for the common good, and they must centre on the dignity of the human person (cf. nn. 2450-2463).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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