Sunday Reflection with Fr Robin Gibbons - 22 September 2013

Fr Robin Gibbons

Twenty Fifth Sunday of the Year C

It is extraordinary how images from scripture can suddenly start haunting you. I find that because of my long monastic soaking in lectio divina’, letting the Word speak to ones heart and soul. In the passage from Luke about the unjust steward, I began to see that his behaviour was not the essential focus of my reflection, rather it was the attitude of his master. For me and I hope you, Jesus points out yet again that nothing is ever black and white in human life, positive things can emerge from bad situations, nothing in the end is ever lost.

What of the steward and ourselves then? Deceitful, untrustworthy, but knowing, he sees his position is coming to an ignominious end, a reckoning with the master looms on the horizon. But he feathers his nest; he exercises ‘astute’ mercifulness to debtors and gains their gratitude. Instead of angrily throwing him out, the Master praises his insight and wisdom and commends his planning and vision. Here is the twist that turns this parable into a challenge on the way we live each day. We are being told that we need to take good notice of all that goes on about us. We must take heed of the peoples actions and examples, even untrustworthy characters, because we might learn from them and find something to challenge and move us out of our limited vision, but perhaps give us an insight that we turn around and then use for the good of others.

It’s a heartening parable because all of us at times, are alas, just like the steward, but God sees the bigger picture, calls us to reflect on the potential that any situation or action may have for transformative change. We need to understand and know the attitudes of the children of this world, but not live as they do. No, for us who are called to be in the light, we must adapt things for the service of the Kingdom and its righteousness,

One key way to grow in insight is to be people of prayer. That is part of our task and vocation, to offer intercession for the world and to open ourselves to that deeper relationship with God. Paul reminds us ‘that in every place’, we are to lift our hands up ‘reverently in prayer, with no anger or resentment’.

Fr Robin Gibbons is an Eastern Rite Chaplain for the Melkite Greek Catholics in Britain.