“Chalta Hain” is a common phrase that is uttered in many of our circles.

 

In its general use, Chalta Hain (= a phrase in Hindi Language which means “It’s ok!”)…

… refers to an attitude of just being casual in important aspects of life…

… refers to an attitude of not taking life too seriously and just float through…

 

 

A Chalta Hain attitude allows lethargy, sluggishness and disinterestedness to creep in…

>> A Chalta Hain attitude dampens enthusiastic hearts and excited spirits…

 

There is a great danger that such a “Chalta Hain” Attitude can move stealthily into our spiritual lives and corrode it.

 
Am I weighed down by this casual and dispirited attitude of Chalta Hain?

>> Or Am I filled with a great zeal and passion and a spirit of resolute determination in my life?

 

The Gospel of the Day is a Parable of a person who was filled with a great amount of courage, preparedness and zeal for a secure future…

… The Parable of the Unjust Steward.

 

 

The Steward, who was working under a rich man, has been reported for deceitful service.

 

He realises that the writing is on the wall…

>> He needs to produce his accounts.

>> He is to be terminated from his job.
It’s a tense situation for him…

 

But this steward is a wise and shrewd fella.

 
He doesn’t allow the tense and apprehensive situation to overpower him!

>> Rather, he takes stock of the situation and becomes a manager of the entire crisis-situation…

 
His brain worked super-fast…his shrewdness gained momentum! 

He called his master’s debtors…and his pen was set to work…
The debt of one hundred jars of olive oil, was manipulated to fifty… (Lk 16:6)

>> The debt of thousand bushels of wheat was reduced to eighty… (Lk 16:7)

 

 

It’s interesting to know how business was done in the first century…

 

In those days, the amount charged to a customer who purchased on credit would include three things:

1. The price of the product

2. The interest charged by the owner

3. The commission to be earned by the steward.

 
The steward could add whatever commission he thought he could collect. That was his profit.

 

In this case, the shrewd steward probably reduced his commission, and perhaps some of the interest added to the loan.

 

The rich master lost no money as he made sufficient profit…

… the customers gained happiness as their debt was reduced.

 

The steward lost some of his profit…

… but he gained much more: an enhanced reputation, some friends, and lots of security.

 

 

It was a win-win situation for all – the Master, the Customers and the Steward!

 
Well…

… so far, so good, with this shrewd steward and his crafty style of management.

 

 

But what is the message in for us?

 

The Steward never went into a lethargic or casual mode…

 

He never allowed the “Chalta Hain Attitude” to conquer him. 

>> He never let the “Chalta Hain Attitude” to control his life.

 
He was pro-active.

He was courageous.

He was bold.
 

Here is the challenge…

>> If this is what the Steward could do, to earn those things that are temporary, how much more should we be doing for those things that count for eternity? 

 

>> If this is what the Steward could do, to please his boss & for a secure future life, should we not be doing much more, to please God?

 

 

Sometimes, it’s incredible to see the great efforts undertaken by people to gain expertise and mastery in the skills of the world…

>> Sportspersons slug it hard and exercise and practise for many many hours to become adept in their sporting skills…

>> Singers and musicians put in many many continuous hours of practise and performance to gain proficiency in their fields…

>> Students preparing for competitive exams spend nights & days into varied studies & preparatory techniques to crack the tests…

 

 

Do we put that same kind of love, energy and creativity into building up the Church, the Kingdom of God and into the things that are to serve God?

 

We can’t afford to get lethargic in matters related to God, to eternal life, to spirituality etc.

 

However, most of the times, this is our attitude….”Chalta Hain…”

 

>> Chalta Hain…when we skip a prayer time or two… (We are tired!)
>> Chalta Hain…when we fail to read sometime of Word of God…(There are so many other works!)

 

>> Chalta Hain… when we skip a Sunday Holy Eucharist…(It’s the only day I get to relax more!)

 

>> Chalta Hain…when we fail to go for confessions… (God will understand me!)

 

>> Chalta Hain…when we don’t care much about our spiritual life…(God is after all, lenient and nice!)

 

 

The Parable of the Shrewd Steward has some negative shades…

>> But still it has a very powerful and challenging tone to shake us off from our “Chalta Hain Attitude” to Life.

 
Let us have a deeper conviction about our faith and the importance of serving God, so that we would put as much heart and soul into our faith as we do into the many other things that we do!

 
Its time to say ta-ta bye-bye to the listless and slothful “Chalta Hain Attitude” in life!

 
God Bless! Live Jesus!