Scripture
Luke 16: 1-8
Then Jesus said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an accounting of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’ Then the manager said to himself, ‘What will I do, now that my master is taking the position away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do so that, when I am dismissed as manager, people may welcome me into their homes.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ He answered, ‘A hundred jugs of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it fifty.’ Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘A hundred containers of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill and make it eighty.’ And his master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly; for the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ignatian Reflection
No Time to Waste
The Parable of the Dishonest, or in kinder terms, the Shrewd Manager has always been a challenge for me to grasp. At first blush, it appears that the rich man is rewarding his manager for being deceitful. Though contrary to our teachings of honesty and justice, he is generously compensated for it. The manager has only recouped half of the money owed his boss and yet maintains his job along with a pat on the back for his creative solution. The manager is using all the resources at his fingertips to secure his own financial future. There is no time to be wasted if his actions can indeed lead to keeping his job and maintaining his self-preservation.
Isn’t this the directive of the Ignatian Principle and Foundation, to use all of the creator’s gifts to praise, reverence, and serve God? We, like the manager, go out of our way to preserve our way of life. We come up with ingenious solutions to secure our own financial future or bring to life our dreams of lavish possessions or tropical vacations. Are we just as resourceful when it comes to our inner being? The manager conveys a sense of urgency that we often lack in bringing forth the kingdom of God. Earlier in Luke, Jesus gave us the needed impetus: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!" He yearns for us to use this same creativity in accomplishing the goals of our spiritual lives.
—Tere Allen is a retired vice principal from Sacred Heart Nativity Schools in San Jose, California, who is now contemplating God through her Substack writing.
Ignatian Prayer
Nov 6, 2026
Prayer
Generous God, everything we have comes from you. You have called us to be responsible and shrewd stewards of creation. Teach us to use our time, resources, and gifts wisely so that all might benefit from your generosity. Develop in us the spark that will set fire to our spiritual lives and ignite the kingdom of God on earth.
In Jesus’s name we pray.
Amen
—Tere Allen
The Daily Examen is a prayer technique developed by St. Ignatius to help us reflect on the events of the day to discern God's presence and direction. When Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, he required the Jesuits to practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It's a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.
The Examen structure presented below is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. Click here for more information from our partners in ministry at Loyola Press.
Daily Examen
1. Become aware of God's presence
God, I believe that at this moment I am in your presence and you are loving me.
2. Review the day with gratitude
God, you know my needs better than I know them. Give me your light and your help to see how you have been with me, both yesterday and today.
3. Pay attention to your emotions
God, help me to be grateful for the moments when people have affirmed me and challenged me. Help me to see how I have responded, and whether I have been kind to others and open to growth.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it
God, forgive me for when I have not done my best or have failed to treat others well. Encourage me, guide me, and continue to bless me.
5. Look toward tomorrow
As I look to the remainder of this day, make me aware that you are with me. Show me how to be the person you want me to be.
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