On this, the 25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, I would like to spend some time with you on the parable of the dishonest steward, and on St. Paul’s request to pray for those who are in high authority.
The parable of the unrighteous steward is one of the more puzzling parables in the Gospels. Following the parable of the most merciful father and his two sons is this cryptic and uncomfortable story about a steward who wastes his master’s goods – then finds out he is about to be fired – then goes on to act dishonestly with his master’s debtors – and then is commended by his master for acting shrewdly.
Through this parable, Christ is saying to his disciples that they should use their material wealth, which will disappear at the moment of death, in order to try to secure the best possible situation for themselves after death (The Didache Bible, Jeffrey Cole ed., 2021, pg. 1389). In other words, we are to use our material resources wisely, so that they will help us gain entry into the eternal Kingdom of God. We certainly will not be able to take any of our stuff to the next life, the material possessions, and the immaterial goods. Our talents, our health, our educational qualifications, our financial resources will all disappear at the moment of death. Please pardon the cliché, but coffins don’t come with trailer hitches. So, while still in this life, when we still have the power of agency, the power to choose, we should treat our workers and employees fairly, and engage in acts of charity on behalf of the poor. In these acts of charity, we can use not only our material resources, but the immaterial goods that Christ has given us: our particular gifts, education, formation, health, our organizational skills. Like the steward from the parable, we are to build up this capital of good will, so that when it will be our time to pass from this world to the next, our friends may welcome us “into the eternal homes” as today’s parable states.
The second reading, from the First Letter of St. Paul to Timothy asks us that “supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity”. We are to pray for our rulers and politicians, and for those who are seeking public office. In the Liturgy of the Mass, the second intercession in the Prayers of the Faithful, the Bidding Prayers, is usually reserved for those in authority. Pope St. Clement of Rome had this most ancient prayer for civil authorities: “Grant to them, Lord, health, peace, concord, and stability, so that they may exercise without offense the sovereignty that you have given them” (CCC 1900). To “exercise without offence” that authority that God has entrusted to our monarchs and politicians means to rule in such a way as to avoid offending natural law, and the divine law of God. Politicians bear at least some responsibility for laws that they enact. Monarchs bear at least some responsibility for the legislation to which they give Royal Assent. To protect the vulnerable and the voiceless, particularly the unborn, is the greatest task of any civil authority. We can also pray that Catholics take up the art of politics, so that we can be governed by people of a good moral conscience, by people who have a good moral compass.
In these days, we live these words of St. Paul also in the context of the death, and funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, whose name was Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. She died on September 8th, the feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and will have her funeral on September 19th, the memorial of Our Lady of La Salette. From one to whom much is given, much will be required. We are Christian people, and as such, we offer up our “supplications, prayers, intercessions” for the soul of our fellow Christian, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. As Queen, she publicly acknowledged Christ to be the Saviour (2011 Christmas Message). The many visits that she paid to Canada, and to other countries, showed the charity that she had for her people. We now ask that Christ in His mercy may wipe away the sins of Elizabeth Alexandra Mary and receive her soul into the eternal dwellings, where He reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We ask that Elizabeth Alexandra Mary may also be granted the most powerful and unique intercession of the Queen of Heaven and Earth, the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, visited and visits her people, whom she loves dearly. In the words of Pope Francis, “Mary has never stopped bridging time and space to visit those of her sons and daughters who need her loving help…How many testimonies have we heard from people who were “visited” by Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother! In how many far-off places of the earth, in every age – through apparitions and special graces – has Mary visited her people! There is practically no place on earth that she has not visited” (Pope Francis, Message for World Youth Day XXXVII 2022-2023, August 15, 2022). Mary is the Queen whose closeness to Her people goes hand in hand with her visits to the people whom she loves. I think that we too should extend the invitation, and ask: Mother Mary, come, visit my family; visit the place where I work, visit my school; Mother Mary please pay a visit to the groups that I’m involved with; dear Mother, come visit our parish, our town. She is the one who bridges time and space to visit her people.
The parable of the unjust steward brings to mind the importance of earning one’s keep in an honest fashion, and using one’s resources in such a way as build up a capital of good-will for the afterlife. St. Paul asks us to pray, especially for those in high positions – in business or politics, among others – so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable existence. We also ask Mother Mary, the Queen of Heaven and Earth, to visit us, and to be close to us, these days and always.
(Fr. Pawel Ratajczak, OMI, Sept. 18, 2022)