Friday of Week 31 Year 1

Some of us are blessed with money and possessions, but are we making good use of these temporary things for our spiritual benefit? In today's Gospel, Jesus praised a steward who misused his master's money. The dishonest steward is praised not for mishandling his master's wealth, but for his shrewdness and foresight in avoiding personal disaster while securing his future livelihood. However, Jesus is not trying to teach us how to prevent a financial or economic crisis. Instead, He is more concerned that we use our shrewdness and foresight to prevent a spiritual and moral crisis. If only we would make much effort in spiritual matters which have eternal consequences, just as we make much effort in earthly matters which have temporary consequences, we would be better off in this life and in the next.