In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus praises not dishonesty but urgency and wisdom.
During this Season of Creation, we are reminded that we are stewards—not owners—of God’s gifts. Even small actions like reducing waste, planting a tree, or choosing kindness over convenience can become acts of love for God, for others, and for the earth.
Nikki Malunas, a long-time member of St. Gabriel’s Passionist Parish in Toronto, Ontario, shares her reflection on the parable of the dishonest manager, urging us to act with urgency, wisdom, and integrity as faithful stewards of creation during the Season of Creation.
Watch the full reflection:
Transcript
The Odd Parable of the Dishonest Manager
In this gospel reading from Luke, we encounter a rather odd parable from Jesus: the story of the dishonest manager. This manager has failed in his role, having mismanaged his master’s property. But instead of panicking at the thought of losing his position, he quickly takes action. He goes to those who owe his master and reduces their debts, hoping that by doing so they might return the favor when he is in need.
This is an interesting parable. The manager isn’t praised for his dishonesty; rather, he’s praised for his shrewdness—for his quick thinking and his creative, urgent response to a crisis.
Living in a Time of Crisis
We too are living in a time of crisis. The earth is under pressure. The climate is changing rapidly. Consumerism is at a high and the gap between rich and poor continues to widen. This moment calls not only for urgency, but for urgency rooted in wisdom and faithfulness during this Season of Creation.
Stewards, Not Owners
This gospel invites us to reflect on what we do with what we’ve been given. The manager didn’t own the resources—he was entrusted with them. And so are we.
We have been entrusted with time, money, relationships, talents, and most importantly, creation itself. As stewards, if we are to seek peace with creation, we must begin by recognizing that the earth is not ours to exploit, but ours to care for.
Witness at World Youth Day
I’ve had the privilege of attending the last two World Youth Day gatherings—in Lisbon in 2023 and in Panama City in 2019. While each experience was filled with unforgettable moments, what stood out most to me was the beautiful communal sharing among the pilgrims.
Whether it was walking two hours together instead of taking a taxi, sharing snacks or water, lending a sleeping bag, or setting aside extra food for families in need, these small acts spoke volumes. They embodied the kind of witness that Pope Francis has encouraged in us as young adults for many years.
Small Actions Matter
In his most recent message for the Season of Creation, Pope Francis reminded us that the earth is entrusted to our care, yet continues to belong to God. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the scale of the climate crisis. We might feel powerless.
But Jesus reminds us in this Sunday’s gospel: “Whoever is faithful in very little will be faithful in much.” That means our small actions matter.
Choosing to reduce waste, walking or biking instead of driving, supporting local and sustainable businesses, educating ourselves, or advocating for policies that protect the vulnerable and our planet—all these small steps become acts of love. They are ways we serve God by serving others, especially the poor, the voiceless, and the earth itself.
The Passion and the Cry of Creation
The Passionist charism calls us to remember the Passion of Christ not only as a past event, but as a present reality. Christ is crucified today in those who suffer. And creation is among the crucified. The cry of the earth is the cry of the crucified, and it calls us to respond with compassion, love, and courage.
Choosing Whom We Serve
In this gospel, Jesus ends with a stark truth: you cannot serve both God and wealth. We must choose between serving systems of greed and destruction or serving the God of life who calls us to live differently.
So we ask: what has been entrusted to you? What small action can we take this week—in our homes, our parishes, and our daily lives—to live more in harmony with creation?
Faithful Stewards Today
This parable reminds us that we are not owners. We are stewards. And what we do with what we’ve been given, especially now, tells the truth about whom we serve.
May we, like the manager, act with wisdom—but unlike him, may we do so with integrity, urgency, and love for all creation.
During this Season of Creation, may the Spirit fill us with joy to be faithful stewards, with clarity to act wisely and boldly, and with love to seek peace with creation—not someday, but today.
And may the Passion of Jesus Christ, who suffered to bring healing to the world, inspire us to be better stewards of the earth as we foster peace in our world.
