Jesus on the cross is the power and wisdom of God. If we share in this power and this wisdom, we will be clever sons or daughters of light. 

In the parable that we hear today, the master praises the dishonest steward for being clever. The master also points out that the children of this world are more clever than the children of light. For the clever of this world know how to use wealth to get others to welcome them in tough times.

And Jesus, in turn, tells us to make friends for ourselves with wicked wealth. These friends, then, will welcome us when our wealth fails. Hence, he lets us know that we can use even wicked wealth to get to heaven. That is, wealth is not a demon.

Nor is it a god. If we take it to be so, then we will have another god besides the Lord, our God. Not getting to know the truth, we will be forging, yes, an idol. Hence, it will do us good to heed the one who warns us, “You cannot serve both God and money.”

It seems that Jesus does not know clean wealth at all; he is quick to call it “wicked wealth.” That is because the powerful and rich earn and hoard wealth in an unjust way. Like the unjust way Amos cries out against. A way that makes slaves and makes less human of both those who exploit and those they exploit.

Or it is because the powerful and rich use wealth selfishly and alone; they do not share it with those who are poor, in fellowship with them. And selfishness easily turns into self-sufficiency. For soon enough, they no longer think of others or of God. So, they live with no ties with God; wealth, not God, is what makes them tick.

To be clever sons and daughters of God means to give up wealth. 

Due to such risks of wealth, Jesus is right to tell us time and again to give up wealth. To give up what we own to give it away. To be disciples of Jesus, not of the Pharisees who love wealth.

Hence, to be clever sons and daughters of light is not about coming out successful as far as wealth goes. Rather, it is about giving up wealth, things we own, to get to the kingdom of God. To win over God as a friend and to gain better and greater goods. Yes, we must help to make broad and wide the rule of Jesus Christ more than what we own (SV.EN III:527).

Lord Jesus Christ, make us give up all we own and our whole selves. To the point of giving up our bodies and shedding our blood for others. We shall thus show that we are clever sons and daughters of light and share in your power and wisdom.

21 September 2025
25th Sunday in O.T. (C)
Amos 8, 4-7; 1 Tim 2, 1-8; Lk 16, 1-13