ACC ~ Luke 16 v9 - 13

USING TRANSITORY THINGS FOR HEAVENLY RICHES

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: He told another parable of the steward, who was accused in the presence of his master. The shrewdness of this unjust steward was praised in the presence of his master. He unjustly wasted the initial treasures and then unjustly and cunningly cancelled the later debts. He was praised because he acquired what was to be his by what was not his, namely, his friends and supporters. Through what was not his, Adam got something that was not his, namely, thorns and pains. [1] O children of Adam, buy for yourselves those things that do not pass away, by means of those temporary things that are not yours! COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 14.21. [2]

[1] Gen 3:17-19.

[2] ECTD 223-24**.

DO NOT EXCLUDE FROM ALMS THOSE YOU JUDGE UNWORTHY

AUGUSTINE: Mammon is the Hebrew word for “riches,” just as in Punic the word for “profit” is mammon. What are we to do? What did the Lord command? “Make yourselves friends with the mammon of iniquity, so that they too, when you begin to fail, may receive you into eternal shelters.” It is easy, of course, to understand that we must give alms and a helping hand to the needy, because Christ receives it in them. … We can understand that we have to give alms and that we must not really pick and choose to whom we give them, because we are unable to sift through people’s hearts. When you give alms to all different types of people, then you will reach a few who deserve them. You are hospitable, and you keep your house ready for strangers. Let in the unworthy, in case the worthy might be excluded. You cannot be a judge and sifter of hearts. SERMON 359A.11-12. [1]

[1] WSA 3 10:216*.

RICHES ARE A LOAN FROM GOD NOT TO BE LEFT IDLE

CHRYSOSTOM: You know that many high standing people renege on repayment of a loan. They are either resistant with a bad attitude or unable to pay because of poverty, as it often happens. In the case of the Lord of all, there is no room for thinking this. On the contrary, the loan is proof against loss. He guarantees to return in good time one hundred percent of what was deposited, and he keeps life everlasting in reserve for us. In the future, what excuse will we have if we are negligent and fail to gain a hundredfold in place of the little we have, the future in place of the present, the eternal in place of the temporary? What excuse will we have if we heedlessly lock our money behind doors and barricades, and we prefer to leave it lying idle? Instead, we should make it available to the needy now, so that in the future we may count on support from them. Remember that Scripture says, “Make friends with ill-gotten gains so that, when you go down in the world, they may welcome you into their eternal dwellings.” HOMILIES ON GENESIS 3.21. [1]

[1] FC 74:49-50**.

IF UNFAITHFUL IN WHAT IS ANOTHER’S, WHO WILL GIVE YOU WHAT IS YOUR OWN?

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Anyone may readily learn the meaning and view of the Savior’s words from what follows. He said, “If you have not been faithful in what is another’s, who will give you what is your own?” We again say that what is another’s is the wealth we possess. We were not born with riches, but on the contrary, naked. We can truly affirm in the words of Scripture that “we neither brought anything into the world, nor can carry anything out.” [1] …

Let those of us who possess earthly wealth open our hearts to those who are in need. Let us show ourselves faithful and obedient to the laws of God. Let us be followers of our Lord’s will in those things that are from the outside and not our own. Let us do this so that we may receive what is our own, that holy and admirable beauty that God forms in people’s souls, making them like himself, according to what we originally were. COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 109. [2]

[1] 1 Tim 6:7

[2] CGSL 444**.

THIS WORLD AND THE WORLD TO COME ARE ENEMIES

PSEUDO-CLEMENT OF ROME: The Lord says, “No servant can serve two masters.” If we want to serve both God and money, it will do us no good. “What good does it do a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” [1] This world and the world to come are enemies. This one means adultery, corruption, greed and deceit, while the other gives them up. We cannot be friends of both. To get the one, we must give the other up. We think that it is better to hate what is here, for it is trivial, temporary and perishable and to value what is there: things good and imperishable. Yes, if we do the will of Christ, we will find rest, but if not, nothing will save us from eternal punishment if we fail to heed his commands. 2 CLEMENT 6.1-7. [2]

[1] Mt 16:26; Mk 8:36; Lk 9:25.

[2] LCC 1:195*.

THE STEWARD SERVES GOD BY SEEKING HIS MERCY WHILE GIVING RELIEF TO THE POOR

AMBROSE: “No servant can serve two masters,” [1] not because there are two, but the Lord is One. Although there are those who serve mammon, he still does not possess any rights to sovereignty, but they impose on themselves the chains of slavery. Power is not just, but slavery is unjust. He says, “Make for yourself friends of the mammon of iniquity,” so that by giving to the poor, we may match the grace of the angels and all the saints for ourselves. He does not rebuke the steward. By this, we learn that he does not belong to the Lord himself but to the riches of others. Although he has sinned, he is praised because he sought help for himself in the future through the Lord’s mercy. He fittingly mentions the mammon of iniquity, because greed tempted our dispositions with different enticements of wealth, so that we were willing to be the slaves of riches. EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 7.244-45. [2]

[1] Mt 6:24.

[2] EHG 328**.