Before I get into anything about today's readings, I'd like to say something about the news.
As you've probably seen on TV, the Internet, and just about everywhere else, an interview with Pope Francis was recently released; and if you go by the reaction you've seen in the media, then we all need to get nervous because everything we thought we knew about the Catholic Church is wrong.
Fortunately, that's not the case.
This isn't the first time and it won't be the last time that people take small samples of what a pope says and then blast them across your screen saying that "the Pope is changing Catholic teaching." It happened to Pope Benedict and it will definitely continue happening to Pope Francis.
The way the major media works and communicates is in soundbites - and soundbites can't convey the depth and beauty of what a man like Pope Francis is trying to communicate.
So I just want to take this moment to reassure you that the pope is still Catholic - as he said in the interview, "the teaching of the church is clear ... and I am a son of the church" - and the Church is still Catholic.
But here are three suggestions for how to react when this sort of thing happens and you have friends or family telling you that Pope Francis is changing what we believe:
1. Take a deep breath. Remember that companies who broadcast the news are very much interested in getting your attention, so they portray everything in sensational ways. Don't panic and don't let other people misunderstanding the faith cause you to be afraid.
2. Go the sources. Don't just read what CNN or NBC has to say about what the pope said, read what he actually said. The whole text of this interview is available for anyone to read - and it is fascinating. It gives us great insight into the pope with good advice for us about really being disciples of Jesus. Always go to the sources!
3. Finally, live your faith. The pope isn't saying anything new, but he is challenging us to deepen our faith. In this interview, in particular, he's saying that the Church's relationship with the world can't just be, "That's wrong, that's wrong, and that's wrong," it has to be a radical proclamation of the goodness that, even though we are sinners, Jesus came and died for us. That's the heart of what we're called to do as Catholics. When we keep that missionary purpose in mind, then our teaching important moral issues like abortion and marriage can be seen in their proper context - as truths flowing from the good news of Jesus.
Our faith is richer than soundbites.
And it's richer than the "rules" the world is so eager to see changed.
That brings us to the strange story that we hear in today's Gospel: The Parable of the Dishonest Steward.
Jesus tells the story of a man who works as a steward to his rich boss. This position is an important one. As we can see in the story, he is responsible for his master's wealth. When he wastes it, he's going to be fired. What's worse, he realizes that he has no skills, no abilities to fall back on - he will be unemployed and soon have no way to survive.
So he comes up with a plan: he lessens the debts of men who owe his master money, so that, when he's on his own, he'll have friends, people who "owe him one" and will have to take care of him.
The twist at the end of the parable is that the master commends the steward for what he did. He sees that, as devious of a plan as it is, he cleverly took care of himself in a desperate situation.
Now, what is the meaning of this strange story for us?
The heart of Jesus' lesson here is about riches. The steward was about to lose everything he relied on for what he considered a good life. His position had made things comfortable for him. When that is threatened, he acted decisively to protect himself.
But the riches of the world, material comfort, are nothing when compared to the riches offered to us by God.
Even if I'm not particularly wealthy, according to the standards of our society, the world is constantly whispering to us: "buy this and you'll be happy, do whatever it takes to get ahead, focus on what's real - what's here in front of you, not some invisible dream ..."
We're tempted to see all this stuff as what's real, while the things of God, the spiritual life, are just some nice additions - it's great if we have them, but only insofar as they make us happy. When it comes down to it, says the world, do whatever you have to do to get what you want.
What Jesus is teaching us in this parable, though, is that that same attitude of do whatever it takes to get rich is the attitude we should have towards our spiritual life.
When it comes to growing in our relationship with God, being holy, living in love - do whatever it takes.
If that means not watching a particular TV show or movie because it leads you to lust - do it.
Or if you find yourself falling into gossip with certain people - speak up, defend the unpopular person.
If it means being a little less comfortable, going outside of what you consider normal, sacrificing some of your time - whatever it takes. It's worth it.
It's so easy for us to see material goods and do what we need to do to get them. The challenge Jesus places before us today is to have that same sort of determination when it comes to our relationship with him.
Like I said at the beginning, the Catholic Faith can't be reduced to soundbites. It's so much richer - and those riches are ours for the taking.
Will we have the determination, the courage, and the love to take those riches and make them our own?
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