Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.” Then the manager said to himself, “What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He answered, “A hundred jugs of olive oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.” Then he asked another, “And how much do you owe?” He replied, “A hundred containers of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and make it eighty.” And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes. Luke 16:1-9

I've always been uncomfortable with this parable, because I am not often shrewd enough when it is necessary and abhor manipulating people. So, I've had to wrestle to understand what Jesus is saying to me today. And if I could put it in my own words, it would be a challenge to be always aware of the context, the culture and the people one serves. Jesus is not suggesting that we should be con artists or thieves. Rather, we are invited today to be wise and observant where we are planted, learning the ways of the people around us.

Great Creator, source of all wisdom

you shower us with sunlight in season

keep us warm and sheltered in winter

and make us home with us here on earth.

We  are unwise often flounder helplessly

without paying attention to your gifts

we rage against the broken world around us

yet we do nothing to lift us all together.

Help us today to be wise and fully aware

help us to see the opportunities around us

let us always be learning and growing in faith

so that we might live in your presence here. Amen.