Proper 20, Year C 2025

By Ben Cluff, Lay Preacher

​May the words of my mouth and the meditation of all our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. 
Good morning, 

Our gospel lesson today has challenged me for quite some time. It generally confuses me. I do not think I am alone in this confusion. In preparing for today’s sermon, I encountered a wide variety of interpretations of today’s gospel passage. 

Jesus shares this parable with His disciples. This particular parable is often referred to as the Parable of the Unjust or Unrighteous, or Dishonest Steward. 

We are introduced to a rich man who has in his employ a steward or manager. Word gets to the rich man that this steward is squandering the rich man’s property. We are not sure exactly what the steward is doing, but whatever the specific mismanagement is, it justifies firing the steward. 

The rich man calls the steward to him. The rich man says, “I have heard reports about you. Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.”

Then we are given a peek into the internal voice of the steward-“What will I do now?” 
I have always found it interesting that the steward never denies any wrongdoing - he just says, what am I going to do now?

The steward conducts a quick self-assessment. I am not strong enough for physical labor - I am not strong enough to dig. I have too much pride to beg- I am ashamed to beg. Aha!!! 

I have a plan - I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes. 
He has a plan that he hopes will take care of him upon being without his job. 
So the steward gathers some of his master’s debtors, those of whom have an outstanding balance. 

To the first debtor, the steward asks What do you owe? The response: One hundred jugs of olive oil. 

OK listen, he says, take your bill and cut it down to fifty. 

To another debtor he says, how much do you owe? The response: a hundred containers of wheat. The steward says, take your bill and reduce it down to eighty. 

And here is the confusing part for me; the steward is commended. “And his master commended the dishonest manager because he acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” 

Jesus then says, “And I tell you make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes.” 

You know that phrase that we encounter many times, “Let those with ears, hear what is being said”? This phrase comes to mind whenever I encounter this particular parable. I hear it, but cannot claim, with any degree of confidence, that I understand it. 

Thank goodness, what I call the punchline of this passage, is unambiguous. 

“No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” 

As Dan reminded us last week, this parable fits into a series of parables found throughout the gospel of Saint Luke. Last week we heard of the lost sheep and the lost coin and the joy before angels of God over one sinner who repents. Last week’s gospel lesson is followed by the Parable of the Prodigal Son. This week we hear of the Unjust Steward and how we cannot serve God and wealth. Next week we will hear of a rich man who learns what is really important, after it is too late. 

The general theme of these seems to be our consideration and acknowledgement of wealth; but wealth broadly, generally; material wealth, financial wealth, spiritual wealth, charitable wealth, intellectual wealth, wealth of talent and treasure. And this consideration and acknowledgement being within the context of, one of my favorite topics for reflection, the inherent tension between the spiritual and the secular. 

Before I go any further, I would like to include the two verses that come immediately after today’s gospel lesson. Verse 13 concludes with “You cannot serve God and wealth. Followed by verses 14 and 15: 
14. The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this and they scoffed at him. 
15. But he said unto them, You are those who justify yourselves before people, but God knows your heart; for what is exalted among people is an abomination in the sight of God.” 

Are there days when you feel wealthier than other days? Are there days when it is easier to share your money, your time, yourself with those around you or with complete strangers? 

Taking a page from the unjust steward, are we shrewd in the use of our spiritual resources or the application of our faith to our daily lives?

It did occur to me that the steward’s plan did not have an immediate payoff. He was hoping that the consideration given to the debtors would benefit him, in the long run. I do not even know if this is a noteworthy observation.

Again, I hear but do not always feel as if I understand completely. 
Generally, these parables often can generate more questions than answers. For example; Do I pursue a list of priorities that exclude God? Am I busy throughout any given day, working with my nose to the grindstone - and never give God a second thought? 

Do we let God in, as we pursue the acquisition of people, places and things? 
Are we driven to obtain and protect some level of status or public esteem? Is God present in that pursuit? 

Am I balanced between work and home? Am I in balance between selfishness and charity? 

All of these questions, and more can be prompted by these parables. Some days I hear better than other days. 

I think entertaining these questions and reflecting on these parables, given to us by Jesus, can be a very important part of our daily, ongoing, relationship with God. They encourage us to reflect, they provide means by which we actively participate in our relationship with God. And hopefully those means lead to the end of participating in our lives and with those we encounter, in a way that is guided and influenced by the overwhelming loving kindness of a loving God. 

In considering the master, his dishonest steward, the Pharisees and Jesus’ response to them, there are familiar words that seem to rise to the top, so to speak. I wonder if that is the case for you as well. 

Prompted by the relationship between the master and his steward and the relationship between the steward and the debtors, this phrase comes to my mind: 
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” 

And prompted by the desire to strive for balanced priorities: 
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first commandment. And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” 

Amen

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