Reflection – Dr Nathan Leber

What master do you serve? 

Jesus states very clearly today that we cannot serve two masters – one must always come first. Yet the parable in which it accompanies seems a little different from most. It is a story of the crafty steward who, in knowing he is about to be unemployed soon, starts making concessional deals with his master’s debtors in exchange for later favours, an act which is praised even by his master. So, what does this mean to us, ‘the children of light’? Pope Francis spoke of ‘Christian cleverness’, an ability to unite the two realities of the divine and mortal, as a gift and a grace from God. He states that it “allows us to be cunning but not according to the spirit of the world.” We must live in the culture of our world but not be corrupted by it. When Jesus sent out the disciples “like sheep amongst wolves”, he told them to be “cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves” (Matt. 10: 16). Our daily bread must be gained, but through noble means, not through corruption, bribery and immorality. Jesus lived as us. He understood the pressures of the world. He knew that salvation was the promise for even those who had material security. However, he had a radical solution. Why not take that which is inherently tainted and corrupting and use it to gain favour with the one who can offer you “the tents of eternity”? Aiding those in need is always a good start, but this needs to extend further. Amos’ vision warns those who “trample the needy and try to supress the poor” all for profit and advancement. We may not do this ourselves, but how many of us inadvertently benefit from the unjust social structures and exploitation that exists in our world? Just as the ‘crafty steward’ seizes on a plan for his future, so must we. This is where the trick comes. Every time we hold the wealth of the world in our hands, we need to ask what would be the best way to use this as a steward of my master? The steward’s actions in the parable are set to appease his master and the corruption of his world. Our actions should be focussed on appeasing our master and his eternal world. You just need to decide who this master will be. As Jesus says, “You cannot be the slave of both God and of money.”   

Dr Nathan Leber