Amos 8:4-7; Ps. 113: 1-2, 4-8; 1 Tim. 2:1-8; Lk.16:1-13
The choice that we make determines our destiny. Our day is filled with choices that speak to who we serve and is our God. The list of choices in inexhaustible from who do we pray for to who do we care for as well as who do we exclude as a sin of omission. What we learn from the rich man and his “dishonest steward” is that an action may on its surface by prudent and charitable but the motive is selfish and self-serving. The Lord knows the heart and intent behind the choice and judges who can be trusted with the riches of heaven. As the prophet Amos declares from the Lord, “Never will I forget a thing they have done!”
Amos describes the “cheating” in the market place tipping “the scales for cheating” as the normal course of business with no sense of moral corruption. Recently someone shared that in their business (car sales) meeting the mode of operation was described with the words “we are here to get people to make bad decisions”. The act of promoting open deceitfulness for profit is a choice from the lowest position to the head of a business that seeks to build a culture that normalizes injustice as fair play. The Lord reminds us there is nothing fair and nothing forgotten.
The “dishonest steward” whose choice to act in a charitable way is no more than self-serving bias. He is being held accountable for “squandering” the property of his “master” and knowing his own limitations uses his “masters debtors” to cheat his master even further of the true debt for his benefit. Rather than having a conversion of heart and repentance he digs himself into a deeper hole. How difficult it is to admit when we are wrong and our bias looks to avoid accountability. Adam blamed Eve for the bite of the apple and Eve blamed the snake and both suffered the consequence of their sin. Their self-serving bias got them both out of heaven and if we follow in those footsteps, it will keep us out of heaven as well.
Jesus Christ came to be the “one mediator between God and men…who wills everyone to be saved”. The Lord is good and stands for good over evil. Jesus further declared evil does not start when an evil act is committed but in the heart of the person that separates them as evil doers from the grace of God. The culture of evil is nurtured by the creation of social norms that promote the separation of God from humanity. Humanity is created in the image of God with the purpose of being a reflection of the goodness of God. Anything that is “other” is from the evil one. While God wills everyone to be saved, he cannot save us without us by our own free will.
In our times as in past times we see a philosophy that attempts to keep God out of policy and business or stated in other terms God and politics don’t mix nor does God and money in the current culture. Many a “good” person will show their dark side when the politics of another does not support their ideological views. Behind the cover of public, political and social media is revealed the true hate and rejection of a person who dares to speak against their ideology. This too is self-serving bias under the vail of a false “goodness”. The freedom and right to dialogue our differences is no longer the gold standard of discord but the denial of the search for truth as a free society. When evil acts are celebrated as “good” our self-serving bias is the great divide between humanity and God and a nation, a community and a family will soon come to an end. The cost to bear is eternity. The choice we make reveals the true self and nothing is hidden from God.
Today, St. Paul calls for “supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone” not just those who agree with us. From those in authority whose actions will impact our lives to the poor where our actions will impact their lives. This is the choice of true love, Godly love that rises to heaven.
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