![\"Oceans](\"http:\/\/www.nicksenger.com\/onecatholiclife\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Oceans-11-500x281.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s gospel account of the dishonest steward reminds me It\u2019s interesting, the way these movies appeal to so many people. That same dynamic is at work in today\u2019s gospel. If this were a movie we could imagine George Clooney Now we have story. And sure enough, our con artist has a clever idea. And what\u2019s so clever about this, The master has to admit how clever his steward has been, And that\u2019s the point Jesus is making to his disciples. It\u2019s like Jesus is watching Ocean\u2019s Eleven<\/em> with us, Today\u2019s gospel challenges us to reflect on whether we are using our intellectual talents and skills on material things or spiritual things.<\/p>\n We can be very prudent How are we doing at planning for our our spiritual future? The dishonest steward stayed one step ahead Maybe it would mean making an appointment with a spiritual director The dishonest steward used his position to make friends The dishonest steward cleverly used the wealth he was entrusted with And finally, the dishonest steward was a problem solver That\u2019s the question before us today.
\nof those con artist movies like Ocean\u2019s Eleven<\/em> or The Sting<\/em>,
\nyou know, those movies featuring criminals
\nwho are trying to con people out of their money.
\nThey come up with these elaborate plans,
\nlike robbing three casinos at once,
\nor tricking the rich man into betting all his money on a fake horse race.
\nAnd despite the fact that they\u2019re criminals,
\nwe find ourselves rooting for them, hoping that their plans succeed.
\nAnd usually, somewhere in the middle of things,
\nthe plan begins to go wrong.
\nBut we\u2019re so caught up in the story, we get all anxious for the con artists,
\nwondering how they\u2019re going to recover,
\nhoping they\u2019re clever enough to put the plan back on track.
\nWe don\u2019t mind that these are con artists, breaking the law.
\nAnd when the twist comes at the end,
\nwe\u2019re even more pleased to have been conned ourselves.<\/p>\n
\nEven though the characters are con artists,
\nwe admire their ingenuity and their boldness.
\nThey have a sort of roguish charm that disarms us.
\nI suppose it helps if they\u2019re played by someone like George Clooney,
\nBrad Pitt or Robert Redford.
\nWe find ourselves wanting the con to be successful.<\/p>\n
\nJesus tells the story of a dishonest steward who’s been found out,
\nand who now has to be clever
\nor face the consequences.
\nHe\u2019s a con artist, a conniver.<\/p>\n
\nin the role of the dishonest steward.
\nHe works for the rich landowner who\u2019s hardly ever home.
\nHe handles all the finances,
\nmanaging the tenants, collecting their debts.
\nBut the steward likes his master\u2019s money a little too much,
\nand he gets caught squandering it.
\nThis isn\u2019t anything new for Jesus\u2019 audience\u2014
\nthey have personal experience with dishonest stewards.
\nBut here\u2019s the first twist in the story:
\nthe master doesn\u2019t have the steward thrown in jail.
\nHe shows him mercy and merely fires him.<\/p>\n
\nWhat\u2019s the con artist going to do now?
\nHow\u2019s he going to survive after being fired?
\nWho will hire him? Where will he live?
\nHe has to act quickly,
\nhe\u2019s only got a short time to figure it out.
\nThis is where the audience begins to root for the steward.
\nThey want to see if this clever underdog can get the better of his master.
\nNow Jesus has his audience hooked.<\/p>\n
\nHe quickly calls in the people who owe his master money,
\nand he slashes their debts.
\nThey don\u2019t know the steward is about to lose his job.
\nThey think he\u2019s negotiated a better deal for them with the master,
\nand it feels like they\u2019ve just won the lottery.
\nThey\u2019re extremely grateful to the steward,
\nand he\u2019s just made some important friends.<\/p>\n
\nis that the master can\u2019t really do anything about it.
\nIf he goes to his tenants and reverses what the steward has done,
\nthen he looks like a man who goes back on his promises,
\nand comes across as stingy and greedy.
\nSo not only has the steward made friends with people who can help him,
\nhe\u2019s also taken revenge on the master by reducing his income.<\/p>\n
\nand he commends him\u2014not for his dishonest squandering\u2014
\nbut for his quick and clever solution in a moment of crisis.<\/p>\n
\nHe says,
\n\u201cThe children of this world are more prudent in dealing
\nwith their own generation than are the children of light.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nand at the end of the movie he says,
\n\u201cYou know, that Danny Ocean is a clever guy.
\nHe\u2019s more clever in dealing with fleeting material things
\nthan the children of light are in dealing with everlasting spiritual things.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nwhen it comes to planning for our future here on earth.
\nWe set up 401k\u2019s,
\nand calculate how much of a nest egg we\u2019ll need when we retire.
\nWe take inflation into account,
\nand whether Social Security will be there or not.
\nWe meet with financial advisors and reallocate the funds in our portfolios.
\nWe set up college IRAs for the kids.
\nWe can be very prudent in looking to our future here in this world.<\/p>\n
\nCan we be as prudent and clever about our spiritual future
\nas we are about our material future?<\/p>\n
\nin making sure he had a future in this life.
\nWhat would it look like for us to stay one step ahead in our spiritual life?<\/p>\n
\nthe way we make an appointment with a financial advisor.
\nOr we might plan to make a retreat at Immaculate Heart Retreat Center
\nthe way we plan for a vacation,
\nusing a little calendar creativity
\nto arrange for babysitting or pet care
\nso we could be gone for the entire weekend.<\/p>\n
\nfor his own selfish needs.
\nHow can we use our positions to build relationships
\nfor the sake of the gospel?
\nIs there someone lonely we can befriend,
\nsomeone we know who could use a companion?<\/p>\n
\nto secure a future for himself.
\nHow can we use the wealth entrusted to us to secure a future for others?
\nWe know that the poor are precious to God.
\nThe responsorial psalm tells us that God lifts up the poor.
\nThe reading from Amos reminds us that God will never forget
\nthose who would cheat the poor.
\nWhat, in God\u2019s eyes,
\nis the most prudent way to use the wealth God has given to us?<\/p>\n
\nfor his own personal gain.
\nCan we be problem solvers for the sake of God\u2019s Kingdom?
\nHuman ingenuity and hard work
\nput a man on the moon,
\nmade smartphone computers that fit in our pockets,
\nand built dams that can hold back rivers.
\nBut can we use our problem solving skills to end poverty, war,
\nprejudice and violence?<\/p>\n
\nWhom do we serve with our God-given gifts?
\nWe cannot serve two masters,
\nwe cannot serve both God and mammon.
\nIf we try to do that we\u2019re only conning ourselves.<\/p>\n