Friday of week 31 in Ordinary Time, First Friday: Let us entrust ourselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Gospel: Luke 16:1-8
In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents the parable of the dishonest steward and makes a surprising observation: “The children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.” Jesus does not praise the steward’s dishonesty, but his determination, resourcefulness, and ability to act decisively when faced with a difficult situation. This challenges us to examine an important weakness in our spiritual lives: while the children of this world often look for solutions, the children of light can sometimes become experts in finding excuses. When people pursue worldly interests, they frequently demonstrate creativity, perseverance, courage, and extraordinary commitment. Yet when it comes to doing good, serving others, spreading the message of Christ, or fulfilling our responsibilities, we may easily find reasons why something cannot be done. We speak about insufficient resources, unfavourable circumstances, lack of cooperation, or difficulties beyond our control. Some of these obstacles are real, but faith should inspire us to discover possibilities where fear and hesitation see only limitations. Jesus invites us to bring the same intelligence, initiative, and determination to the service of God’s Kingdom that people often demonstrate in pursuing material success. Being prudent does not mean avoiding risks or responsibilities; it means discerning wisely and acting courageously for what truly matters. The children of light should be recognized not by the number of difficulties they identify, but by the goodness they accomplish despite those difficulties. The message of Christ calls us to move from passive intentions to concrete action, from endless explanations to creative solutions, and from excuses to generous commitment. Faith becomes fruitful when we stop explaining why something cannot be done and begin discovering, with God’s grace, how it can be done. Let’s reflect: When I encounter difficulties in doing good or fulfilling my responsibilities, do I use my intelligence and creativity to find solutions, or do I allow excuses to prevent me from acting with faith, courage, and determination?
Don Giorgio