 |
| "The Parable of the Unjust Steward" -- by Jan Luyken [Click image for full size view] |
FIRST READING: Amos 8: 4 - 7
4
Hear this, you that crush the poor, and make the needy of the land to
fail,
5
Saying: When will the month be over, and we shall sell our wares: and
the sabbath, and we shall open the corn: that we may lessen the
measure, and increase the sicle, and may convey in deceitful
balances,
6
That we may possess the needy for money, and the poor for a pair of
shoes, and may sell the refuse of the corn?
7
The Lord hath sworn against the pride of Jacob: surely I will never
forget all their works.
1
Praise the Lord, ye children: praise ye the name of the Lord.
2
Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.
4
The Lord is high above all nations; and his glory above the heavens.
5
Who is as the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high:
6
And looketh down on the low things in heaven and in earth?
7
Raising up the needy from the earth, and lifting up the poor out of
the dunghill:
8
That he may place him with princes, with the princes of his people.
1
I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men:
2
For kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a
quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity.
3
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour,
4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of
the truth.
5
For there is one God, and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ
Jesus:
6
Who gave himself a redemption for all, a testimony in due times.
7
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle, (I say the truth,
I lie not,) a doctor of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
8
I will therefore that men pray in every place, lifting up pure hands,
without anger and contention.
1
And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who
had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted
his goods.
2
And he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of
thee? give an account of thy stewardship: for now thou canst be
steward no longer.
3
And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord
taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I
am ashamed.
4
I know what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the
stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
5
Therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said
to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord?
6
But he said: An hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy
bill and sit down quickly, and write fifty.
7
Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe? Who said: An
hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write
eighty.
8
And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done
wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation
than the children of light.
9
And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity;
that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting
dwellings.
10
He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that
which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little, is
unjust also in that which is greater.
11
If then you have not been faithful in the unjust mammon; who will
trust you with that which is the true?
12
And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's; who
will give you that which is your own?
13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one,
and love the other; or he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
