July 19, 2026. Gospel: Luke 16:1-9. Eighth Sunday after Pentecost.

1 And he said also to his disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward: and the same was accused unto him, that he had wasted his goods.Dicebat autem et ad discipulos suos : Homo quidam erat dives, qui habebat villicum : et hic diffamatus est apud illum quasi dissipasset bona ipsius. 2 And he called him, and said to him: How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship: for now thou canst be steward no longer.Et vocavit illum, et ait illi : Quid hoc audio de te? redde rationem villicationis tuae : jam enim non poteris villicare. 3 And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord taketh away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able; to beg I am ashamed.Ait autem villicus intra se : Quid faciam? quia dominus meus aufert a me villicationem. Fodere non valeo, mendicare erubesco. 4 I know what I will do, that when I shall be removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.Scio quid faciam, ut, cum amotus fuero a villicatione, recipiant me in domos suas. 5 Therefore calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first: How much dost thou owe my lord?Convocatis itaque singulis debitoribus domini sui, dicebat primo : Quantum debes domino meo? 6 But he said: An hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take thy bill and sit down quickly, and write fifty.At ille dixit : Centum cados olei. Dixitque illi : Accipe cautionem tuam : et sede cito, scribe quinquaginta. 7 Then he said to another: And how much dost thou owe? Who said: An hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take thy bill, and write eighty.Deinde alii dixit : Tu vero quantum debes? Qui ait : Centum coros tritici. Ait illi : Accipe litteras tuas, et scribe octoginta. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, forasmuch as he had done wisely: for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.Et laudavit dominus villicum iniquitatis, quia prudenter fecisset : quia filii hujus saeculi prudentiores filiis lucis in generatione sua sunt. 9 And I say to you: Make unto you friends of the mammon of iniquity; that when you shall fail, they may receive you into everlasting dwellings.Et ego vobis dico : facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis : ut, cum defeceritis, recipiant vos in aeterna tabernacula.[9] "They may receive": By this we see, that the poor servants of God, whom we have relieved by our alms, may hereafter, by their intercession, bring our souls to heaven.Luke 16:1–9, the Parable of the Unjust Steward, is one of the most challenging passages in the Gospels. At first glance, it almost sounds as if Jesus is praising dishonesty—but that's not what He is doing.The story is this:A steward is accused of wasting his master's goods.He is told he is about to lose his position.Knowing he will soon be unemployed, he reduces the debts of his master's debtors.His master commends him for acting shrewdly, not for cheating.The key is that the master praises the steward's prudence and foresight, not his dishonesty.What is Jesus teaching?Jesus immediately gives the interpretation:"The children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light."In other words, worldly people often put enormous energy into preparing for a temporary future—careers, investments, possessions. Christians should be at least as diligent in preparing for eternal life."Make friends by means of the mammon of iniquity"This is probably the most puzzling verse."Mammon" means wealth or possessions. Jesus is not saying that money is evil in itself. Rather, earthly wealth belongs to this passing world and can easily become an occasion of sin.His point is:Use your earthly possessions in such a way that they help you attain heaven.How?Give alms.Care for the poor.Support the Church.Practice generosity.Then, when earthly wealth is gone, its fruits remain.