“And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.  “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.  I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.””  In my first year of studies in the seminary I was taking pre-theology classesat the University of San Diego.  During one of the breaks there was an opportunity to go on a mission trip to Tijuana and to help with the building of homes down there.  While we were working on one of the homes the people of the community gathered together and prepared a very simple, delicious and abundant lunch for us and served it to us with great joy.  I was impressed by how good and abundant the meal was given that the people of the community were living in such poverty.  They had very little, but the little that they had they shared with us and they shared it joyfully.  The meal served more than to alleviate our hunger after a hard day’s work, it also served to create a sense of community, to share a sense of gratitude and appreciation for the work that was being done and to foster good feelings and friendship with the people of the colonia.  It afforded the people of that small colonia the opportunity to express their sense of human dignity in that even though they were lacking in material goods and resources they were not lacking in the things that make us truly rich – charity, kindness, joy, community, hospitality, generosity and gratitude.

     It was difficult for me to accept something from someone who had so little to spare.  However, in reflecting upon the generous offering, I understood that what the people of that small colonia had offered us was more than kindness and charitable sharing, it was also prudent.  It was prudent to share what they had with someone and to create good feelings and friendship with those who were trying to help.  They used the little that they had to create hope for the future.  Prudence told them that they could hold on to what they had and use it for themselves and therefore have a moment of satisfaction but the more prudent course would be to share it with others in the hope that those others would be able to help them to provide for a better future in which they would experience a lasting satisfaction.

     I think that this experience helped me to understand the parable of Jesus concerning the dishonest steward.  Jesus commends the dishonest steward for being prudent.  In fear for the future he could have held tightly on to what he had in order to use it for himself in the future.  However, with prudence he decides to use what he has to help others trusting that there might come a time in which they would be able to help him in future need.  Prudence helps him to understand that he is not going to be able to live on his own resources in the future (he is ashamed to beg and not strong enough to dig) so he decides to put his faith in others and in the friendships that he might be able to develop.  Jesus is encouraging us to seek prudence and to not rely only on ourselves or to work only for ourselves in the future but to put our faith in others who are our friends and to help one another form a true sense of community.  Our friends In the future will be our greatest resource.

     Good stewardship is not only about time and resources in the moment but it is also about hope in the power of love for the future.  Our greatest treasures are the relationships with people that we have formed along the way.  When we have prudently helped others then we have the hope that they will return the favor and help us in our need.  We are called to serve our community and not just ourselves, for as a part of a community we also benefit.  So prudence tells us to not selfishly use our resources for ourselves alone but to share with others through responsible stewardship.  Give your fair share to the community and you will have a future of greater hope.  Do not live in fear but in faith and help to build a community in which all people will benefit in the future.  In that way we will have something that is truly lasting.