Years ago, I read about a priest who was leading a retreat in a federal prison in the South. One of his talks focused on Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness.
He quoted from the Gospel: “You have heard it said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn and offer the other as well.”
To bring this message to life, the priest shared the story of Jackie Robinson, the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball. When Branch Rickey signed Robinson in 1945, he gave him a stern warning: “You’ll have to endure every hateful word and action they throw at you – and you must never fight back.”
Rickey was right. Jackie was hit by the ball, jeered by fans and mocked by fellow players. Off the field, he faced segregation. He was denied access to the same hotels and restaurants as his teammates. Through it all, Jackie never responded. Time and time again, he turned the other cheek – both literally and spiritually.
After the talk, one of the inmates challenged the priest with a question: “Did Rickey and Robinson turn the other cheek for the sake of money? After all, both stood to gain a lot if Robinson succeeded.”
The priest responded by quoting Jesus from today’s Gospel: “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.”
In other words, people often go to great lengths for rewards that are temporary. But Christians are called to work even harder for rewards that are eternal. It’s clear that Rickey and Robinson weren’t driven by selfish gain. Their motivation was deeper: fellowship, justice and a vision of something higher.
Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson weren’t just strategic – they were faithful. They planned with God’s Kingdom in mind.
Now, let’s look at the end of today’s parable. That’s where we find the heart of the lesson: “No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money.”
St. Paul echoes this when he writes, “You were bought at a price – the precious blood of Christ. Therefore, glorify God in your body.”
In life and in death, we belong to God. And yet, how often do we chase power, status and recognition? These aren’t naturally bad. Think about Joseph of Arimathea. He was a wealthy man, and yet he used his influence to bury the body of Jesus with dignity.
But power and influence can become dangerous when God is no longer our first priority; when prayer is neglected and reverence is replaced by self-interest.
Imagine if we gave to prayer just a fraction of the time we spend on social media or watching television. We might become saints. We might come to know God as our closest friend. That relationship is worth pursuing – and it demands attention.
Sadly, for many of us, it takes a crisis to turn our hearts back to God. In today’s Gospel, the dishonest steward faced a crisis. It pushed him to act, to prepare for what was coming, to invest in relationships that would carry him forward.
The message of the parable is clear: now is the time to act. Now is the time to take God seriously. For one day, the Lord will come to each of us and say, “Give me an account of your stewardship.”
When that day comes, what will you say?
Thank you for the message.