“Doing things in life not to please people; rather to please Christ, our Master!”

(Based on Amos 8:4-7, 1 Tim 2:1-8 and Lk 16:1-13 – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle C)

A new ticket collector had been appointed at a suburban railway station and commenced his duties during a severe spell of wintry weather.

As a Christian – being very conscientious and meticulous in the discharge of his duties – he insisted all the passengers to produce (display) their season tickets as they passed through the gate of the station.

His predecessor had got to know most of the regular passengers and allowed them to pass without asking them to show their season tickets.

After a few days, as the new ticket collector continued to insist on all season tickets being shown, one of the travellers said to him one evening, ‘You’re not at all popular with the travelling public, Sir.’

Pointing to an image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in his office, the ticket collector, with deep conviction, replied: “I don’t mind that!

It’s my God with whom I want to be popular…
… it’s only His approval that I desire in everything I do!”

Do I desire to seek the approval of God in everything that I do?

Do I do things in life to please Christ, my Master…
… or to please people and win their applause?

The Gospel of the Day is a sharp reminder on the need for us to take our spiritual life more seriously…
… have a greater zeal for spiritual matters than even those with worldly desires
…. Make a radical choice for the Lord and Him alone, as the treasure of our life!

Jesus speaks of the parable of the dishonest steward.

The steward, who was working under a rich man, has been reported for deceitful service (Lk 16:1)

He realized that his job would be terminated very shortly!

He needed to produce his accounts.
… it was a situation of tension for him!

But this steward was a wise and shrewd person!
He did not allow the tense situation to overpower him!

Instead, he became the master of the situation and became a controller 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…

The debt of hundred measures of wheat was reduced to eighty…

Well… all this sounds interesting…
… with this shrewd steward and his crafty style of management.

But what is the message in for us?

One important message that we can take home is that…
… the steward was ever alert and prepared to take any risks and chances, to ensure a good future!

He never went into a lethargic or casual mode!
The shrewd steward was ever-prepared to face the future!

What about us?

Are we prepared…
… in our spiritual life?
… to meet our God?

The shrewd steward never allowed the “attitude of lethargy” to conquer him.

He was pro-active.

He was courageous.

He was bold.

Here then, is the challenge for us…

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 practise for many hours to sharpen their skills…
Singers and musicians put in many hours of practise to gain proficiency…
Students preparing for competitive exams spend nights & days to crack the tests…

Do we put that same kind of love, energy and creativity…
… into building up the Church
… into contributing to 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, many of the times, we take things for granted…

Skipping prayer time or spiritual exercises… (We are tired!)
Failing to read sometime of Word of God… (We have so many other works!)
Missing the Sunday Holy Eucharist… (We get that as the only day to relax more!)
Failing to go for confessions… (We say that anyway God will understand me!)
Not caring much about our spiritual life… (We remark that God is after all, lenient and nice!)

The Parable of the shrewd steward might have some negative shades…

But it has a very relevant and challenging tone to shake us off from our “attitude of lethargy” to Life.

Let us do things in life not to please people and win their applause…
… rather to please Christ, our Master!

God Bless! Live Jesus!

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE EUCHARIST IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION – Thanksgiving and praise to the Father

The Eucharist is also the sacrifice of praise by which the Church sings the glory of God in the name of all creation.

This sacrifice of praise is possible only through Christ: He unites the faithful to His person, to His praise, and to his intercession, so that the sacrifice of praise to the Father is offered through Christ and with Him, to be accepted in Him. (CCC #1361)