GOSPEL READING: LUKE 16:1-13
The parable of the dishonest steward has to be understood in the light of the Palestinian custom. The master who lends things like oil or grain of wheat was obliged to receive the real amount together with interest which would also be in kind. So the debtors were obliged to return the real amount which was borrowed together with the amount which was agreed upon as interest for the borrowing. At times the stewards who were acting as agents on behalf of their masters were obliged to receive this amount of interest as commission.
The master commends the dishonest steward who has forgone his own commission on the business transaction by having the debtors write new notes that reflected only the real amount owed the master (i.e., minus the steward’s profit). The dishonest steward acts in this way in order he may be welcomed by the people when he left the job as the steward. The steward was interested in the relationship and friendship with the people than the material gain (the commission).
இந்த உவமையை ஏற்றுக்கொள்வது கடினமே. இஸ்ராயேல் மக்களின் கலாச்சாரப் பின்புலம் நமக்குப் பயன்தரும். மேற்பார்வையாளருக்கு வரவேண்டிய வருமானம் தலைவனுக்கு வரவேண்டிய வட்டியிலிருந்துதான். ஆந்த வட்டியைத்தான் இந்த மேற்பார்வையாளர் தள்ளிவிடுகிறார். உறவை முன்வைத்து பணிபுரிவதால் அவர் இயேசுவினால் எடுத்துக்காட்டாக பேசப்படுகிறார்.
