“The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.”

This is a very tricky passage. It was a challenge keeping focussed. We have to keep in mind all along that Jesus praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness only and nothing more. Yes, he wants us to be “smart men and women” but for the right reasons.

As I see it Jesus is pointing out that even this good-for-nothing steward can get some things right. Is he trying to show us too, that within each of us there is the potential for good and bad and we must applaud the good when it happens?

As I pondered on the reading, it brought back fond memories of two children I taught. One was a born liver. She developed the art of winning friends and they were there for her many a day when she was in trouble.

She did not only know which buttons to push but she possessed a warm, pleasant personality that exuded a freedom and confidence that was admired by many of her classmates. The other was a child who had a very rough childhood; she was terribly scarred and many doubted whether she would make it in life.

Well, she did make it. Through hard work and discipline she managed to advance professionally and achieve success. Today she is an accomplished entrepreneur.

The steward in the parable reminds me of the first of these children. He found himself in a predicament, he was fired from his job and his future looked dim so he sat down and planned what he would do.

“Dig, I’m not strong enough. Go begging, I should be too ashamed,” he said. The steward knew exactly what he was unable to do and recognised what was possible.

He talked to himself and worked out a strategy for getting out of his predicament. He wanted to be welcomed “home” when the time came so he used his resources and called in his master’s debtors and reduced their debt significantly with the intention of establishing a long-term friendship with them.

Jesus is recommending that, we, the children of light be as astute as the children of the world. The dishonest steward realising he was in trouble used his imagination and became proactive. He probably worked as he never did before.

His God-given talent came to his rescue. He used it with confidence to gain friends and assure himself a place at their tables. In the same way the children of light are called to use their talents to grow in integrity, justice and love.

This passage teaches us that in life we have to set our priorities right, to choose values that put people before things. It calls us to stay connected; to build relationships that will last, that will keep us in good stead.

It challenges us to build relationships not to destroy them, to help people not hurt them, to make a place for people, not to shut the door on them. When we use our talents wisely we touch lives.

Lord, the steward in Jesus’ parable planned his course of action when he was faced with a dilemma. We thank you for those astute parents who realised they had brought their families closes to “death”; they had destroyed family pride, love and trust. We thank you that they were able to call their children to dialogue and so ensured that love and unity were restored.

Lord, we thank you for artists, musicians, authors and skilled craftsmen who work hard at their trade to perfect their craft. They know how to manage their talents and use them in the service of others.

Forgive us for the times when we use our resources to bring disharmony, rather than harmony. For the times when we fuss about the right way of doing things and putting things back in their proper places. Teach us, children of light, to be like the astute steward in the passage who understands how to distinguish between essentials and non-essentials – how to place people as our first priority.

Lord, we pray that leaders and all those in authority will come to understand that power, influence and popularity are not real riches and that riches lie in the ability to build friendship, to care for oneself and others, and the environment.

Gospel Meditations for September are by Bernadette Salandy, a former primary school teacher and member of the Movement for a Better World, Ms Salandy is now on the staff of the Metropolitan Tribunal.