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

     Why even read the Bible? People think Holy Scripture is hard to understand, and for that reason, lots of folks never attempt to read or understand it. And thinking Scripture is hard to understand, leads folks to dismiss Scripture, as they claim that people can make the Bible say whatever they want it to say, so you can never really know the true meaning-which leads to Scripture being dismissed as not being authoritative-as not being the trustworthy, unwavering Word of God-because, how could it be, when its so confusing and rooted in the shadowy fog of antiquity? And-today's Gospel lesson would be one of those passages used to illustrate how difficult and confusing Scripture is-causing one to throw one's hands in the air and exclaim-"See! Who can say what this means! And who can claim that this is God's Word for us-when we can't really understand it!"

     And we would have to agree, when you first read our passage from the Gospel of Luke, and take it at face value, without any real thought or study, it can seem confusing. The whole notion of Jesus using the antics of a dishonest steward as a model for faith and life-is baffling. When we hear Jesus say, as it is translated, rather inaccurately in the New Revised Standard Version, "make friends for yourself by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal homes", it can leave you scratching your head and wondering-what in the world does that mean?! But reading the text with just a little background, and with simple knowledge of the situation Jesus is addressing, makes this encounter, and Jesus' words not just understandable, but clear and helpful to disciples. And what background and knowledge makes this lesson not so difficult?

     Well, initially, it's helpful to know whom Jesus is talking to, and whom Jesus is talking about. If you remember the last few Sundays, we've been reading about Jesus' various encounters with the Pharisees and scribes, and hearing how they were self-righteous, judgmental, outwardly pious while inwardly cold and irreligious. Jesus challenged them repeatedly about their condescending attitude toward the poor, and tax collectors and sinners, their unwillingness to welcome and sit at table with those they considered of lower status than themselves, and their lack of love and compassion, especially for the lost and the lonely and the repentant. So, as Jesus had just finished pointing out how unforgiving and unmerciful these Jewish religious leaders were, he then turns to his disciples-but in our particular passage from Luke's gospel, Jesus isn't talking about the disciples-he's talking to them, about the Pharisees and scribes! And what Jesus points out to the disciples, about the religious leaders in Judaism is how these "managers" whom God had put in charge of his property-were clearly dishonest-but even in their dishonesty, they had failed to use what they had been given to their advantage. Still, they hoarded the gifts of God, and kept it for themselves, while the poor and the outcast and the lower classes, struggled along. So, to this situation, Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest steward who finally was fired, but was smart enough to use his position and responsibility to befriend those who might be able to help him in the future. Even this shrewd dishonest manager, cared enough for himself, that he used the responsibility given to him, to make for himself a soft landing place, so that after leaving his position, he could come down easily. And the message is, the Pharisees and scribes haven't even done that, though they could have. Surely, Jesus points out, if not for the sake of the rank and file Jewish home and family, but if only for their own welfare and future, the Jewish leaders might have used their position and responsibility to help and care for others-if not out of care and compassion, then out of selfish concern for themselves! Jesus says, in this life, if nothing else, use what you have, whatever the motivation, to help others, so that you might receive some eternal reward! The words Jesus actually uses in Greek, are properly translated, "unrighteous mammon", not dishonest wealth-unrighteous mammon meaning all that we earn and have in this earthly life. Our worldly income, our earthly possessions and wealth-these are unrighteous mammon, because they have to do with this temporal, secular existence-more properly defined as "unrighteous", but not necessarily "dishonest" But, Jesus is saying, use what you have in this life-for God's purposes and the sake of your neighbor. And if you won't use it in this way for Godly purposes, then do it for selfish reasons, if you must-but one way or the other-use what you have in this life, that you will be regarded, by God, as a good and faithful steward. For, Jesus says in conclusion, "Whoever is faithful in a very little, is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful with the unrighteous, earthly wealth that you have in this life, why would God entrust to you the true riches-a place in heaven, an eternal home. For, no slave can serve two masters.you cannot serve God and wealth."

     And of course, this makes perfect sense-and put in context, what Jesus was saying about the Pharisees and scribes, flows naturally into his teaching about serving God above unrighteous mammon-and was surely helpful to the disciples then, just as its helpful to us, today-freeing us from striving for worldly wealth, freeing us for, using what we have and are-to serve God and others! Those of us who find ourselves, in earthly life, trying to serve two masters, trying to serve both God and wealth-know how hard that is, and know how freeing it is to be released from our bondage to income, money and striving, to have but one God: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. In this light, our lesson for today is understandable and meaningful, and helps us to redirect our lives, to get us back on the right path, with regard to our money and wealth, in this life. It still, however, didn't make sense to those Jewish leaders, because right after Jesus had said these things to his disciples, Luke tells us in the very next sentence, "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they scoffed at Jesus. But Jesus said to them, 'You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts; for what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God." And there, again, the message becomes clear, and we see the arrogance and greed of some, set over against the will of God, that we serve Him, and not earthly wealth. And why does Luke include this exchange in his gospel? Why record this encounter, and the words of Jesus and the response of the Pharisees, to be read from the Bible, for ages? To lay out before us, the two ways-the way of serving unrighteous mammon-the way of serving earthly striving and self-justification and greed, as over against the way of serving God-being faithful with what has been given us, by being good stewards of what we are and what we have. No slave can serve two masters, Jesus says. So, whom will you serve, asks St. Luke? God, or mammon? Will your desire be for wealth in this life, or an eternal home in heaven, forever? Will your goal in life be to amass greater and greater piles of unrighteous wealth, or to be entrusted with true riches? The choice that Scripture presents is not so hard to understand, after all. It is making the choice that is hard, not just for the Pharisees, but for all who are "lovers of money". But, we all must choose-because we cannot serve both God, and wealth! And, says Lutheran theologian, Carl Braaten writes in the chapter for our book study tomorrow evening, "God and mammon cannot both be served. A clean cut choice has got to be made. Either we carry the cross of the kingdom, or we seek the security of the prevailing worldly system." And that says it all, doesn't it? Because we cannot serve both God and wealth. So, choose, today, whom you will serve-choose today, whom will be Lord of your life-God, or unrighteous mammon!

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