In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.


Today’s readings talk about the virtue of prudence.  The dishonest steward of the Gospel, who squanders the goods of his

master, was praised by the Lord for acting prudently.


Of course, Jesus does not commend the steward for his dishonesty but for his prudence. After the steward was fired, he

prepared for his future.


Jesus says: “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.”

He is saying that our practical intelligence is quickly set in motion by that which is material. Unfortunately, we are not so

expeditious regarding the spiritual, our eternal destiny and our ultimate happiness, as if our relationship with God were not

as urgent as earning money.


Prudence is a very important virtue. It is the first of the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “To be prudent means to discern what is our true good in every circumstance

and to choose the right means of achieving it, ‘the prudent man looks where he is going.’”


Where are we going? What is our future? Our future is God. In the second reading, Saint Paul says: “There is one God.

There is also one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus […].”  To be prudent is to act, relate to people and

use things in a way that does not compromise our future. We need to ask ourselves constantly whether our relationships are

in accordance with our relationship with God. Do we really respect the people around us? How important is the way that we

deal with money and goods? What is greater: God or our possessions? Jesus says no servant can serve two masters.
 

In the first reading, we find an example of what it means to be imprudent. The prophet Amos speaks against the powerful

who buy the poor for money: “We will buy the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair of sandals.” This means to treat the

other as an object and not as a person.


In the time of the prophet Amos, the chosen people had forgotten the Covenant. They were living as if God were not a real

presence among them. When God disappears from the human horizon, tyranny begins and we act toward our neighbor in a

way that does not recognize his dignity.  We only really start respecting the other when we recognize his eternal destiny.


The great question of our lives is our salvation, finding meaning for our lives. This week, more than ever, with what

happened at the Naval Yard, we feel the need for meaning and salvation, the need for a love greater than hatred and

violence.


Saint Paul is clear when he says: “God wills everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” In order to

reach this salvation, we need to be wise, to act prudently. Like the dishonest steward of the Gospel, we need to prepare for

our future.


Let us ask the Virgin Most Prudent to intercede and obtain for us the gift of wisdom. May she help us to live and act

prudently.


In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.