The Lord answers these questions in the Gospel today. In the Gospel parable, this steward has been dealing dishonestly with his master’s accounts, and when he is found out, he sort of scrambles to settle the accounts of his master.
The honest listener to the Lord’s parable would have to admit his resemblance to that dishonest steward. We’ve all been given this great patrimony to administer, we’ve been given natural gifts from God, intellect, creativity, physical and emotional strengths, not to mention the great supernatural gifts that flow from God’s grace. And yet, the honest Christian admits the dishonest misuse of our blessings.
And like the steward in the parable we will have to make an accounting for how we used or misused our time talent and treasure. The hour for rendering an account will come for each one of us, and we do well to ensure that we are doing all that we can to atone for squandering the gifts of God.
While certainly not praising the wasteful stewardship of his master’s good, the Lord praises a particular aspect of the steward’s conduct: his shrewdness. He deals shrewdly—wisely—with his master’s debtors, and for this the steward is praised.
How are we to use our time in the master’s service? How are we to use the gifts we’ve been given? Christians need to be wise, shrewd, and clever.
Elsewhere, the Lord says that his disciples are to be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. I think of the Lord’s own shrewdness in dealing with the Pharisees. He was crafty and clever in exposing their errors and hypocrisy. And so should we. Or the early Christians, who faced terrible persecution. Shrewdly, they gathered in secret when the government outlawed their worship. They studied their faith, they passed on the faith to the children and neophytes, they evangelized not just the commoner, but also the imperial courts, the aristocracy, and finally the emperor. That’s clever. They didn’t just evangelize by their words either. They became known for their charity toward the poor. They made beautiful music, beautiful art to lift the soul, to attract souls to God.
I think this Gospel is so very fitting in light of the this week’s disheartening Motu Proprio issued on Friday, which depending on how our bishop reads it may or may not limit our ability to celebrate the beautiful mass of the ages in this diocese. I’ve only been celebrating the EF for two years, I can’t imagine how some of you must be feeling. Not only from the possibility of the mass being limited, but a sense of injustice, misunderstanding and betrayal from church leaders. What has happened to accompaniment? What has happened to pastoral sensitivity?
I’d like to share with you some encouraging words from the great Fr. Zuhlsdorf, which you may have already seen. They gave me comfort. He wrote, “To those of you who have put your heart and goods and hopes into supporting and building the Traditional Latin Mass, thank you.
Do not for a moment despair or wonder if what you did was worth the effort, time, cost and suffering. It was worth it. It still is.
By your efforts you made it possible for many people to come close to an encounter with Mystery. That is of inestimable value and eternal merit. By your efforts you supported many priests who deepened their appreciation of who they are, as priests, at the altar." And that includes me.
But I’d like to add, and this is inspired from the Gospel, that there is an opportunity here, for great shrewdness. The mass will continue to be made available in this diocese. Make use of the time we’ve been given. Be shrewd and be clever, in inviting souls to share its beauty and goodness.
We’ve in a sense been wounded, and there is sadness. But be careful. Whenever sadness is not handed over the Lord, it can become poisonous. Somehow, this is an opportunity to bring souls to Christ. To build up the church and strengthen ecclesial communion.
If the Holy Father is concerned that this form of the mass is a form of division, let’s show him the opposite. Show our bishop your strong, solid, orthodox faith that supports him in his role as chief shepherd of the diocese. Invite the bishop to get to know you, to see the good spiritual fruit that flows from this form of the mass. Be clever, be kind, be aware that people are watching to see how we react. Be innocent as doves in word and deed.
Knowing this group just for a few months now, I know, this is a very resourceful group of faithful, crafty catholics. As clever as they come. So keep calm and worship on for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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