Breaking the Word

Then he also said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.' The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.' He called in his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?' He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.' Then to another he said, 'And you, how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.' And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. (Lk 16:1-8)

A rich man is rich because he does not allow his stewards to squander his property. For the rich man the steward is not important so also any worker (for that matter any person). For the rich man his property in more important than anything else. He looks for stewards will think and work like him. The rich man does not even think of correcting the steward by giving him one more chance.

This steward is also different from the others. Because he has been a steward for sometime he has lost his own will and ability to do work. Because he has been a steward he has gained some status in the society. So to go back to work like the other men he would find it difficult and ashamed. And much more so to be a beggar.

The steward invents a new way of being useful and respectful in the society. He calls all the debtors of his masters. It is said that the stewards are due to get something from the debtors. This steward forgoes what was due to him from the debtors. Because of this sacrifice that he makes he regains his position in the society and respect in the society. It is for this reason that the steward is commended.

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." So to them he addressed this parable. "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. "Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.' In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Lk 15:1-10)

Tax collectors and sinners were near Jesus. Tax collectors were considered to be socially and politically wrong. They were collecting tax in the name of Roman king. Indirectly they accepted the Roman Empire and its authority over their own land. But the Jews believed that the land was given to them by God because of his promise to Abraham. No one else except God could have authority over the land.

Pharisees and Scribes would not associate with the tax collectors and sinners because they were against their own religion and they were working against their own God. Pharisees and their groups were against Rome and would not permit Rome to have any hold in their land. This was one of the main reasons why the Pharisees and the Scribes were against Jesus. Jesus joined hands with tax collectors and sinners (indirectly did he accept the Roman presence)

Jesus was not bothered about the earthly realities and their social political issues. He was concerned about the kingdom of God. The parables that he was using were talking about the rejoicing in heaven over the conversion of sinners. Jesus was concerned about the people of God and their belonging to the kingdom. This was the reason why he said: “there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents”.