Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Luke 16:1-8
Administering Life

Brothers and sisters, today Jesus gives us a puzzling parable—the dishonest steward. At first sight, it looks like the Lord is praising dishonesty. But in reality, he is teaching us about how to live wisely and responsibly, because our life is not our own—we are administrators, not owners.

First, Jesus warns us about squandering. Life is the most precious treasure God entrusts to us, but sometimes we waste it. We think we are the masters of our time, but we are only stewards. When we give more to work than to family, or more to pleasure than to responsibility, we lose balance. Saint Augustine reminds us: “Protect order, and order will protect you.”We are called to live with balance and moderation, mindful that our life belongs to God.

Second, the parable leads us to ask: “What shall I do?” The steward, facing crisis, searched for a way forward. We too must ask ourselves: What is my path? What is my mission? What talents has God entrusted to me? Each of us has a gift, a unique way to bring life and joy to others. When we discover it, we stop drifting and begin to live with purpose.

Third, Jesus highlights the steward’s astuteness. He prepared for his future, even if dishonestly. The lesson for us is this: be wise, be kind, and treat others well. Positions, power, and wealth all pass away. Life, as we know, turns like an omelet—today we may be on top, tomorrow at the bottom. That is why we must never forget humility and kindness, because at the end, what matters is not status but love.

And here lies the challenge of the Gospel: if people of the world are so committed to securing their comfort, should not we, children of the light, be even more committed to securing eternal life? Jesus invites us to put the same energy, creativity, and determination into our faith that we so often pour into work or pleasure.

So let us live wisely. Let us administer our life not for passing gains, but for the Kingdom. Then, at the end, Christ will welcome us—not as dishonest stewards, but as faithful servants who lived with love.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025