Reflection on Luke 16:1-13

This Gospel was one of the most difficult to glean from and I wonder each time I hear it if Jesus really meant us to be dishonest when life hands us a blow. One commentator tried to explain that the unjust steward was simply lowering his own profits... the master tells him what is expected from each tenant farmer and the steward is allowed to add as much to that amount as the farmers will accept. What really struck me was the end of this portion where Jesus tells us to be trustworthy in small things so that we can receive greater gifts and responsibilities. We tend to overlook the small things... We cannot make peace in Syria so we sadly turn to other things... perhaps with a little prayer. We can continue to be friendly to a neighbor or family member who simply doesn't like us and cannot hide that fact. We can reach out to a lonely person, pay attention to a child or make a phone call to someone who lives alone. We are not directly helping the suffering Syrians, but we are adding to the total amount of peace in the world. We can think of good and evil in our world as items on a scale. Which side has the most? Can a speck of dust adjust the balance of the good? Our praise of God each morning, our thanks for the joys in our day, our kindness in carrying out our daily tasks with patience and good will all tip the scales for the good side. We heard about the "last straw that broke the camel's back". It is the same with the good. It may have been one small sacrifice or prayer or good deed that foiled a terrorist plot we did not even know about. Everyone can do good instead of bad... and make the world a happier and more peaceful place. Mary, Queen of Peace and Lady of the little tasks in the home in Nazareth, show us the way!