Reflections on the Gospels from a Justice Perspective written for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church by members of the congregation

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Luke 16:1-13 Forgiving Debts

Luke 16:1-13     Forgiving Debts

In this parable, Jesus tells about a dishonest manager. We don’t know whether he
embezzled from his employer or overcharged customers and pocketed the difference.
We can’t tell whether he was doubling down on his dishonesty by writing off legitimate
debts, or canceling the portion he had added to bills. Jesus doesn’t say; he must think
it doesn't matter to the point of the story. What matters is that the manager recognized
that what was good for the debtors was good for him.

The King James Version of the Lord’s Prayer says “And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). (The original Greek word in the passage means
just that: debt.) Many in our society are struggling with indebtedness: medical bills and
no health insurance, college loans, unemployment and underemployment, low wages, a
ragged social safety net. What is Jesus telling us about our dependence on even those
who are barely surviving? How might their well-being be good for us? How are we

being faithful to his message? As individuals? As a society?

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