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THE WORD

Rom 15: 14–21 / Lk 16: 1–8

Jesus 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 containers 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.”

 

IN OTHER WORDS

I am writing this reflection bearing in mind all the scams and controversies the government is facing today, for example, the Pork Barrel Scam, a 10-billion scam wherein the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) was illegally used or was allegedly pocketed by some legislators and officials who were mandated to serve the people, not themselves.

Today’s Gospel narrates the parable of the unjust steward. A steward is a person who manages another person’s property or finances. Being a steward entails trust and confidence. Unfortunately, the steward in the Gospel failed the expectations of his master so he was technically “fired” from service. Realizing that he had no other work to do, he talked with the debtors of his master and gave them promissory notes asking them to cut half or a percentage of what they owed. Some Biblical scholars interpreted this as a move by the steward to remove his “commission” from what the debtors owed to his master. With what he did, he was commended by the master for being prudent. He was commended not because he cheated but because he exercised foresight.

Citing this parable, Jesus was trying to tell his listeners that they can avert crisis and failures in life through the exercise of faith and foresight. As Christians, we are challenged by today’s Gospel to foresee the Kingdom of God as the ultimate end of this earthly life. With heaven in our minds, we can avoid committing sins. As God’s stewards, we should be ready to give an account of our lives at any time. Unlike those legislators who are linked to alleged scams, we should be good stewards of our time, finances and possessions and free ourselves from greed and possessiveness.

  • Bernhard Abrazado, SVD (DWC, Calapan, Or. Mdo.)

The Word in other words 2015

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

 

THE WORD

Rom 14: 7–12 / Lk 15: 1–10

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.”

 

IN OTHER WORDS

Everybody is entitled to the love of God in Jesus. The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin have the same message, that God seeks the lost ones so they find their way back to him. God reveals Himself not anymore in the form of cloud or fire, but with a face in the person of Jesus who relates with the people intimately. No wonder that throughout his public ministry, apart from his preaching, he had shown much compassion to the poor, the outcast and the less privileged. He healed many sick, restored the dead back to life, fed the hungry and forgave sinners.

In Buenos Aires, I had a chance of accompanying one night an SVD confrere, Fr. Luis Salas, to visit the “chicos de la calle” in the park. These are young people who live on the street near the SVD provincial house. They are branded as “dangerous people,” uneducated, and drug addicts. Despite the anxiety, I conceded to my confrere’s invitation. When we arrived at the park there was already a bonfire; some food was also prepared to celebrate the birthday of one of their members. My companion introduced me as a religious priest. During the night long conversations they slowly opened up their personal problems and struggles to me. There I came to know them as persons. They were so happy that we were there with them, especially Fr. Luis who had been accompanying them for a good period of time.

I myself do not believe that there are really bad people. In principle God made man in His image and likeness. Thus, by nature we are all good, although sad to say some tend to lose God along the way. The good news, however, is that God never gives up on us. That is why Jesus used the two parables to impart to us the unconditional love of God.

  • Garry Bacol, SVD (Argentina)

The Word in other words 2015

The Word in other words 2015

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

 

THE WORD

Rom 13: 8–10 / Lk 14: 25–33

Great crowds were traveling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them, “If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say; “This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.” Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops? But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.”

 

IN OTHER WORDS

As a construction engineer before entering the seminary, I learned that there are many factors why construction projects are cancelled: there might have been an oversight in planning, or cash flow might have run out, or the owners might no longer be interested in the project, among others.

Each time I drive along Quirino Avenue in Manila, I would always look with pity at the unfinished façade of the Paco Station. It was supposed to look like New York’s Grand Central Station, except that the historic PNR station’s rehabilitation project was abandoned halfway. Corroded and rusting steel bars are sticking out of the structure, its concreting slowly crumbling down, and I haven’t seen the magnificent clock on its top tell the right time. Whatever the reason for stopping the project, the sight of the abandoned building certainly makes me sad.

It is the same with us; we may have an oversight in our spiritual life, or feel that our faith has run out, or are no longer convinced about being authentic witnesses for Jesus. At some point in our life, as we carry our crosses and deny ourselves, we may get tired and find it easier to abandon the “project” to be true Christians.

In Luke’s account of today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to plan our lives and make sure that we are prepared and prudent in our actions as his followers. He challenges us to be vigilant and not complacent about our faith; He tells us tofocus on Him.

As Christians, we are asked to see beyond the material possessions we have, to break away from relationships that limit our growth into a deeper union with Him, and to strive to get through the challenges we face each day. We therefore pray that the Lord assist us in our journey, and keep us dedicated to pursue this lifetime project with Him.

  • John Ferdinand Cruz, SVD (DWS, Tagaytay City)

The Word in other words 2015

The Word in other words 2015

The Word in other words 2015

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

 

THE WORD

Rom 12: 5–16 / Lk 14: 15–24

One of his fellow guests on hearing this said to him, “Blessed is the one who will dine in the kingdom of God.” He replied to him, “A man gave a great dinner to which he invited many. When the time for the dinner came, he dispatched his servant to say to those invited, ‘Come, everything is now ready.’ But one by one, they all began to excuse themselves. The first said to him, ‘I have purchased a field and must go to examine it; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have purchased five yoke of oxen and am on my way to evaluate them; I ask you, consider me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have just married a woman, and therefore I cannot come.’ The servant went and reported this to his master. Then the master of the house in a rage commanded his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in here the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ The servant reported, ‘Sir, your orders have been carried out and still there is room.’ The master then ordered the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedgerows and make people come in that my home may be filled. For, I tell you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.’”

 

IN OTHER WORDS

The Jewish vision of the Messianic reign likes to picture it as a royal banquet. Indeed, the man who is speaking to Jesus in today’s gospel is thinking of that Messianic banquet. Jesus replies to him with a parable. In the parable the master stands for God. The originally invited guests stand for the Jewish establishment consisting of the scribes, pharisees and priests; sadly, they refuse to accept the invitation to the banquet. The poor people from the streets and lanes stand for the tax-gatherers and sinners, who welcomed Jesus in a way in which the orthodox Jews never did. Those from the roads and hedges stand for the gentiles, for whom there was still ample room at the feast of God.

Although the warning in the parable is addressed to the Jews of Jesus’ time, there are truths in it which are valid for all of us today. The first man says, by way of excuse, that he has bought a field and is on the way to see it. He allows the claims of business to usurp the claims of God. It is a temptation to which people all too often fall prey. So immersed are they in worldly affairs that they have no time for God.

The second man says that he has bought five yokes of oxen and is going to test them. The excitement of new acquisitions and undertakings readily frustrates the claims of Christ. It is perilously easy for a new project, a new hobby, a new game, even a new friendship, to take up the time that should be kept for God.

The third man says that he has taken a wife and therefore cannot come. A marriage with the prospect of a home is a lovely thing. It is a tragedy of life that time and again good things crowd out the claims of God. But the bonds with God also strengthen the bonds among men. Those people live best together who live with God. They serve each other best who also serve their fellowmen. The atmosphere of a home is most lovely when those who dwell in it remember that they are also members of the great family of God.

  • Karl Heinz-Peschke, SVD (Vienna, Austria)

The Word in other words 2015

The Word in other words 2015

The Word in other words 2015

The Word in other words 2015

An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.

 

More Articles ...

  1. November 2, 2015 Monday
  2. November 1, 2015 Sunday
  3. October 31, 2015 Saturday
  4. October 30, 2015 Friday
  5. October 29, 2015 Thursday
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