From: "David Petersen (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Trinity 9 - The Unjust Steward Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 1:02 PM Trinity 9 St. Luke 16:1-9 The parable of the unjust steward. Both the Epistle and Introit are especially useful in understanding this Gospel and bringing it to a sermon. The key verse is 8: And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. The unjust steward and the children of this world are wiser than the children of light because they recognize how desperate their situation is and go about their business with a single minded zeal for improving it. But consider the children of the light, as exemplified by the Epistle, 1 Corinthians 10:6-13. They grew complacent. They forgot how dependent upon God they were. They fell for the devil's seduction and tried to serve two masters, have the best of both worlds. You can't have the pleasures of the flesh and the peace that passes all understanding. All fence-riders, all moderates, all the waffling undecided waiting to see which way the wind will blow belong to the devil, whether they know it or not. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the one thing, the only thing, needful. All else is dross. The Chosen People chose to abandon the One who delivered them out of Pharaoh's slavery. But in their treason they found no pleasure in the pleasures of the flesh. They found only the bone crushing, tearing jaws of the wolf that seeks to devour. There is no comfort in the arms of another woman, the bottom of the bottle, or in the gossip that tears down your friends. Creation betrays those who worship her. The devil cannot deliver on his false promises. Instead he hands us over to embarrassing diseases, awkward failures, shame, and haunting memories. The sirens' alluring song only crashes sailors on the rocks, it never leads to their vain and adolescent, lusting fantasies. Creation gives no comfort, no hope, no peace, for she wants no worship. She only desires to be liberated on the Day that the sons of God are revealed, freed from the prince that so cruelly abuses her and the frustration to which she has been subjected. What then is the right use of mammon, of the good things God has given that have fallen into evil hands and use? They are to be used to extend the Kingdom of Grace. Like the unjust steward we are to be focused upon the account we will give to the Almighty. We are to plan for it, prepare for it, live all of our lives waiting for it. On that great, merciful day we will say: "I am clean, pure, and righteous. I have come for my inheritance. For the Innocent Blood of Christ shed by violence, recklessly poured out for me in compassion, has made it so. He has forgiven me, adopted me, rescued me. I have no debts, no dishonor, no guilt, shame, or regret. I have Christ, My Bridegroom who has chosen me as His undefiled, chaste bride." And while we wait that culminating Day, we are generous with the mammon that is not ours. We demonstrate the mercy, the philanthropy of the Creator by giving away the gifts of creation, by bringing the arts and architecture, labor, food, literature, indeed, all things, all our life, into the service of this proclamation, this hope: "God, who sacrificed His Son to make us His children, will not abandon us to this fallen world or to Hell. He is merciful in Christ. He is faithful unto death. He is coming back to claim His own." Everything hinges upon this. There is nothing else. Of ourselves we are helpless, but thanks be to God, He is our Helper! (Introit) Petersen + Historic Preaching + The Historic Preaching list is devoted to preaching on the Propers of the Historic Lectionary as found in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Service Book and Hymnal (SBH). Subscribe? Send ANY message to: Unsubscribe? Send ANY message to: Respond? Click 'Reply' or write to For further information about this list, contact the list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski or visit our website: + + + + + +