The wealth of this world is meant for a different purpose as we come to understand by faith.
In what is at first a puzzling parable, a dishonest steward is on the verge of being dismissed for incompetence in his work. To make his life after his job more comfortable, he takes steps to curry favor with his master's debtors, and clearly the master is impressed at his prudence.
If dishonest people can be so shrewd to gain for themselves, we are meant to be just as strategic in building treasure in Heaven, devoting ourselves to God in all we do. Even St. Paul writes in the 2nd reading from 1 Timothy about praying for our leaders and joining together in fellowship peaceably.
Indeed, we are meant to edify one another, rather than focusing solely on ourselves and what we can gain for ourselves. With that perspective, in words I often hear in the prayer after communion, we use the wealth of the earth to attain what is everlasting.
Today's liturgy supersedes the Feast of St. Matthew, and it's still worth celebrating him today becuase he is an example of someone who was so focused on building wealth for himself, like many tax collectors were. When Jesus called him, he was clearly stirred deep within, and left his lifestyle to follow Jesus. He experienced a great transformation to proclaim the Good News by His life of how, when we repent, God's power is truly manifest in our lives as we build His Kingdom on Earth.
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