What we do now matters

Pentecost 15 – 2019

Luke 16:1-13

Marian Free

In the name of God, Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver. Amen.

The parable of the shrewd steward is the most confronting of all of Jesus’ parables. This is primarily because Jesus appears to commend dishonesty (at worst) or self interest (at best) as a means to earn salvation. A number of factors contribute to this interpretation. The first is the ‘helpful’ but not original heading provided by most English translations – ‘The unjust (dishonest) steward’. This means that before we even begun to read the parable we have formed a view based on the title that it has been given. A second problem is that most readers are not equipped to discern where Jesus’ words end and the editor’s comments begin. As a consequence we tend to read the author’s comments as if they were a part of the parable rather than understanding that they were almost certainly added later. Equally problematic is the fact that very often the reader forgets that Jesus is telling a parable and instead reads or hears it as a story from life – that is, we hear it as if Jesus is commending an actual manager rather than using the parable to make a point.

In reality there are a number of curious aspects to this parable, a number of questions that we often fail to ask ourselves or points that we fail to notice. For example, we do not know that the steward has been squandering his master’s property – only that reports to this effect have reached the landowner. We don’t tend to ask ourselves how a person can ‘borrow’ oil or grain! We assume that the dishonest action relates to the reduction of the master’s debts whereas in fact this happens only after the steward has been accused. In reality we have no information about the steward prior to the incident that is recorded other than that a rumour about his behaviour has cost him his job. The steward has no opportunity to defend himself – the rumour alone is sufficient to besmirch the honour of the landowner, who in order to retain his place in the social order has to dismiss the steward.

The act of writing down the debts is almost certainly not what led to the steward’s dismissal. As is the case with managers of modern day sheep or cattle stations, the day-to-day running of a first-century land holding would have been entirely in the hands of the manager who would from time to time produce the books as a form of accountability. Landowners (then as now) would vary in their direct involvement. An absentee landowner might not even live in the country and would be satisfied with the management as long as the property seemed to be making the expected amount return. This, of course, makes a manager susceptible to gossip and slander and gives him (or her) the freedom to act dishonestly. It also means that it would have been entirely possible for the steward might let out some of the property or extend loans on which he would charge interest, some of which he would keep for himself. This being the case, when the steward writes down the debts he may not be defrauding the landowner but may in fact be reducing his own expected income. It is a wise activity because while it reduces the steward’s present income, it assures him of some sort of comfort in the future. Those whose debts are reduced could express their gratitude by welcoming him into their homes. According to this view, the manager is not commended for acting dishonestly but for behaving sensibly. That is, instead of holding on to his wealth, he sacrifices some in the present for the greater reward of a more comfortable future.

Most scholars argue that the parable proper ends at 8a (Jesus’ commending the manger for his shrewdness). 8b does not belong to the parable and could be Jesus’ words addressed to the disciples or a comment added by the author. The saying about making friends by means of dishonest wealth (v 9) does not belong to the parable or to Jesus. So the parable ends, ‘The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly.’ He was less concerned with his present wealth and more concerned about his future existence. The challenge for Jesus’ disciples (a group that is almost certainly greater than the 12) is to be less concerned with their present comfort and to act in ways that will ensure their future security (a place in heaven).

As we have seen, during the journey to Jerusalem Jesus has made it abundantly clear that following him will not lead to a comfortable existence in the present – it will separate families and may lead to persecution. He suggests that there is no point starting the journey unless they are prepared to ‘take up their cross, to understand the consequences of discipleship and be prepared to see the journey through to its end. It may mean that there are sacrifices to be made in the present – letting the dead bury the dead and letting go of creature comforts, but the consequences of not letting go, and their rewards of trusting God are beyond compare.

The parable of the steward gives a sense of urgency to Jesus’ message. The landowner takes no time to think before he fires the steward and the steward barely hesitates before he writes down the debts of others.

There is no time like the present to act – to examine our lives and to consider whether or not our behaviour and attitudes in the present match the behaviour and attitudes that we associate with the kingdom of heaven. Are we complacent in the present and heedless of the future? Does our desire for stability and security in this world mean that we are not paying attention to the next? What does the shrewdness of the steward have to teach us?

“Let the dead bury the dead”

Pentecost 3 – 2019

Luke 9:51-62

Marian Free

In the name of God who calls us to give our all, hearts, minds, souls and bodies. Amen.

The story of Father Rob Galea referred to in today’s Pew Bulletin is just one example of a convert who has carefully weighed up the consequences of becoming a Christian before taking the final step of faith.1 There are many well-known Christian thinkers and leaders who report that their coming to faith was costly or was met with a degree of resistance on their part. They have understood that giving one’s life to God is, as Father Rob recognized, a matter of complete surrender, a willingness to give up absolutely everything in order to place God at the center of one’s existence. Accepting Jesus is not a decision to be taken lightly – it could mean a complete change of direction, the relinquishing of wealth, relationships or intellectual objections to faith or, particularly in nations in which conversion is illegal, it could mean accepting martyrdom as the likely consequence of coming to Jesus.

I wonder how many of us have had this experience or whether, as those who have never known a time when we did not believe, really understand the cost of discipleship.

“Let the dead bury the dead.” Verse 51 begins a new section in Luke’s gospel. These apparently harsh words reflect Jesus’ awareness of what lay ahead of him. Jesus “set his face towards Jerusalem”. Luke is making it clear to us that this is no ordinary trip, it requires both determination and resolution. Jesus is not going to Jerusalem because he wants to, but because he must. He knows that what lies ahead of him is not recognition and acclamation, but rejection, suffering and death and he is anxious that those who want to follow him understand the dangers that they will face and be prepared to take the risks that discipleship him will entail. If Jesus’ would-be followers are not fully committed, they will be disappointed. Worse, they will be wasting their time. They might just as well stay at home because if they do not understand the costs now, they will be completely at a loss when things turn bad. Jesus knows that those who will last the distance will be the people who really grasp the world-shattering nature of his mission and his message. They are the ones who will be ready to sacrifice everything, even their lives, to be a part of Jesus’ project to change the religious and social culture of which they are a part.

After Jesus’ death the lives of his disciples will be radically changed – in ways that at this point they cannot even begin to imagine. “Let the dead bury the dead.” Jesus is saying: “do not come with me if you do not think that you will make the distance.”

Jesus’ words, harsh as they sound to us, should not be unexpected. Earlier Jesus had warned the disciples of his impeding suffering and death. He has informed them: “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.  What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves?” Those who follow Jesus must understand the consequences of discipleship – there is no glory to be had, only acceptance of the call and a willingness to do or to endure whatever lies ahead.

Those who are willing to give up everything and follow Jesus are not abandoned or left to their own devices. According to Luke, Jesus uses the journey to Jerusalem to teach the disciples, to prepare them to continue his mission after he has gone. For the next ten chapters – up until his arrival in Jerusalem – Jesus will share with the disciples his radical understanding of God and of the relationship between God and God’s people.

Jesus’ will undermine their traditional views of God with parables like the forgiving Father; he will expose the rigidity and hypocrisy of the Pharisees; he will remind them that earthly possessions are temporary; he will challenge them to remain focused and to expect his return at any given moment; he will demonstrate in word and action that it is the intention of the law, not the letter of the law that is important; he will overturn concepts of honour and shame; he will shock them with positive stories about the Samaritans and negative stories about the rich; he will confront their narrow views as to who is and who is not included in God’s kingdom; and he will dare them to use their gifts to the very best of their abilities. In other words, he will open their eyes to a new way of seeing and equip the disciples to teach the good news as he understands it.

At the same time, Jesus will give the disciples confidence to carry on his mission. He will empower them to do all that he can do and declare that even the demons will submit to them. Jesus will give the disciples courage to endure whatever difficulties they might face – reassuring them that even the hairs on their head are counted and letting them know that if they are brought before the courts the Holy Spirit will give them the words to say.

From now until the end of November, we will travel with Jesus and the disciples towards Jerusalem. We, with the disciples will be challenged to see the world as Jesus sees it, we will be formed for ministry and prepared to face whatever difficulties may lie before us.

Today we have a moment to stop and think: “Do we really understand the cost of God’s call on our lives?” “Have we really committed ourselves to follow where ever it is that God will lead us?” and, if push comes to shove; “Will we put our hand to the plough and not look back, no matter what temptations lie behind and no matter what difficulties lie ahead?”

1 Father Rob Galea stands out because he is Maltese, a singer, and he lifts weights. He explained to Meredith Lake on the ABC that his decision to be a Christian was not one that he took lightly. He had to ask himself whether he was able to surrender everything – his music (which to that point had been his means of earning an income and which had given him a degree of renown across the world), marriage and family (which included breaking up with his girlfriend of 4 years whom he had hoped to marry) and anything else that God might be asking him to give up as part of this vocation. In the end, Rob felt that in order to have the relationship with God that he desired, he was willing to give up anything and everything.