Homily for the Memorial of St. Leo the Great

2023-11-10

In today's parable, a wealthy man confronts his steward about misusing the man's property. He commands him to make a full accounting, telling him that he will no longer be employed by him. The steward recognizes that he will need the help of his master's many debtors, so he calls each of them and lowers the debt that each one carries. While this does bear a little bit of dishonesty, it points to a much more significant message. We see that the master is no longer as angry with...

In today's parable, a wealthy man confronts his steward about misusing the man's property. He commands him to make a full accounting, telling him that he will no longer be employed by him.

The steward recognizes that he will need the help of his master's many debtors, so he calls each of them and lowers the debt that each one carries. While this does bear a little bit of dishonesty, it points to a much more significant message.

We see that the master is no longer as angry with the steward after he lowers the debtors' burdens. Perhaps, in seeing the mercy with which the steward treated the debtors, he also tempered his response with mercy.

In the LORD's Prayer, we ask God to be merciful just as we are merciful. May the story of the dishonest steward guide us in our response to people in our lives.

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