Am I willing not only to be accused, but convicted of squanderings? This might not be the message of the story found in the parable of what is often called The Parable of the Shrewd Steward. Or maybe it is. It is everything that flowed in my personal response to this difficult parable. Choices.
He steps out from the crowds of this world,
the nameless one, with small offerings.
That which was given to him,
to keep his own stomach from growling
is placed into the hands of someone else …
for others.
And there are murmurs.
Frivolous!
Squanderings!
(Such accusations)
He reaches into the pocket of his heart
and draws out a handful of words.
They have been entrusted to him,
yet he lavishly scatters them
over the fields of those
who are debtors in need
of forgiveness.
And there are murmurs.
Frivolous!
Squanderings!
(Such accusations)
There is one who stands to
be without wages for a week.
And those whose hours have been cut
and salaries have been reduced,
ask, “May we give a portion of our pay
to this woman?”
And there are murmurs.
Frivolous!
Squanderings!
(Such accusations)
There is a man
who runs in a manner
that would bring dishonor
to any man of great position.
A father’s robe
covers a son in disgrace.
A ring is placed
on a hand dirtied
by life.
And there are shouts.
Frivilous!
Squanderings!
(Such accusations)
There is a steward
Who, with a master’s ledger in hand,
Forgives and forgives and forgives
as if he is in the world of his reality
yet strangely not of the world.
And there are accusations
of shrewdness …
of dishonesty ...
and above all,
of squanderings.
(Accusations only)
As I walk through my days,
and find placed in my hand
that which holds power
to hurt or to heal,
to feed or to starve,
to forgive or not,
I wonder if I will buckle
under accusations.
My questions are these ….
Will I, too, hear accusations
of squanderings
shouted about me
when I choose
what to do with that which
has been entrusted to me?
Oh God, I hope for such accusations.
And will the accusations
of squanderings
remain just accusations,
or will I be convicted
of such things?
Oh God, I pray for convictions.
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