For each of us comes a day of reckoning. We are responsible. We use that word so often we may forget the content. For gifts and graces and for pilgrim time we must give answer and render an account. All is on loan. Each of us is a steward of the good gifts of God and our tenure is indeed brief. We have not here a lasting city. And our time of final audit comes when we know not the day nor the hour. We have brief hold on both space and time. St Paul alerts us: "Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation." St Luke calls to ultimate reality: "Give an account! Now you can be steward no longer." All fleeting time is gone forever! We thank God that the mercy of the Lord is above all his works. And as the autumn days grow shorter we offer thanks that as yet there is time for repentance, for gratitude and contrition proved by amendment most sincere.
The prophet Amos warns against blatant and repulsive crime. Some trample on the needy and victimise the poor. They can scarcely wait for Sabbath sanctity and silence to pass in their fierce eagerness to betray the poor and extort the last few paltry shekels from the needy, even now only half-fed and poorly clad against the chill of night. The starving they would feed on the offscourings from the granary floor. Does the All-Holy One not see?
The prophet tells us He will not forget, as He looks upon the heavens and the earth. From the dust He raises the patient poor and from the dung-hill He rescues those rejected by the dishonest wealthy and the treacherous proud. All things are naked and open to His eyes. The deceits of devious deception can never blind the vision of our God and all tawdry trickery is exposed for what it is. The Words of Emperor Charles V echo in mind and heart: "In the light of the last candle, all will be clear." By God's mercy, we will not wait till then. "Enlighten my eyes, O Lord, that I may never sleep in death."
The unjust steward has wasted treasures held on trust. There are gifts more precious than money, property and crops. Our treachery, ingratitude and folly may well dizzy and appal. We seek stillness and prayer. We look across the landscape of our years and beg for pardon, for healing and for peace. Shakespeare recalls us to truth:
"What a piece of work is man!
How noble in reason! How infinite
in faculties!
In form and moving how express
and admirable!
In action how like an Angel!
In apprehension how like a god!
The beauty of the world!"
If we were asked tonight, "How much do you owe the Master?", what answer have we? We could not reply in terms of wheat or oil but would have to account for treasures transcending far the limited currencies of time. Even the dishonest steward showed more prudence and more care in clinging to evanescent gains than we do in our fickle faltering attempts to cling to things eternal. We ask for light in our darkness. May we so use the good things of time as not to lose those of eternity. Let us not allow dishonest stewards to prove more astute than we, who are called to be children of light. For all of us the time is now!
"Loving merciful Father.
Gifts without measure flow from your hands to bring us happiness, growth and peace.
Our life is your gift!
Guide us on our once made journey.
Help us not to squander treasures of grace. Save us from blindness and folly.
Keep us safe in your love. We ask this through Christ Our Lord,
Amen."
Lord, that I may see!
F.MacN.