31st Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 4th November 2022 — Gospel: Lk 16,1-8
Make Friends for the Kingdom
The parable of the shrewd manager concludes with the great truth that “the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation.” In other words, people strive more intensely for the things of this world rather than for the kingdom of God. But what is expected of them is assessment of the long-term future of their actions. Jesus’ disciples, who are considered “the children of light”, could learn something about acting prudently from the “children of this age.” What they could learn from the “children of this age” is to make friends for themselves by means of dishonest wealth so that those new friends might ‘welcome them into the eternal homes.’ Instead of using dishonest wealth to exploit others, as the rich do, the disciples are expected to use wealth to make friends for themselves. It is a friendship that builds up reciprocal and egalitarian relationships, that not only releases other people’s debts, but also enriches and establishes new kinds of relationships.
