Selected Sermons, Volume 3

125 On the Unjust Steward

SERMON 125 On the Unjust Steward 1 alt2 indeed is a healthy seasoning for all food, if it is used in limited amounts; otherwise, used immoderately, both the salt itself is ruined, and it destroys what it seasons. For an excessive amount makes bitter what a moderate amount could have made tasty. So too the reasoning faculty that is in us, if it should have moderation, provides flavor, gives birth to understanding, produces prudence, enlarges the heart, increases ability, gives mature expression to what must be said, puts eloquently what must be heard, becomes delightful to itself, and becomes perfectly delightful for those who partake of it. And certainly that reasoning faculty will be sweet as honey which will let nothing bitter come out of its mouth. 2. We have made these introductory remarks, so that our reasoning may be kept within the bounds of moderation in interpreting the Gospel, so as not to ruin the food of life, the divine nourishment, the heavenly flavor, but so as to preserve them for us with most judicious sobriety, according to the words of the Apostle: “To know no more than it is right to know, but to know in sobriety.”3 But now let us listen to what the Lord has said. 175 1. The reference to the parable of the Prodigal Son in section 5 suggests that it was the Gospel at a liturgy a short time earlier. Since the parable of the Prodigal Son was read during Lent, it is likely that this Sermon 125 was also Lenten. See F. Sottocornola, L’anno liturgico, 64–65 and 109–11. A. Olivar, Los sermones, 271–72, suggests that the reference to the Prodigal Son means that Lk 15.11–32 was also read in addition to Lk 16.1–9 at the same liturgy when this Sermon 125 was preached. Given how very brief the reference to Lk 15 is in this and the subsequent Sermon 126, Olivar’s hypothesis seems unlikely. 2. The “salt” metaphor is also employed in Sermon 120.1 (FOTC 17.203). 3. Rom 12.3. 3. There was a certain rich man (Lk 16.1). And who was this man if not Christ? Who is rich except the One who in our poverty kept possession of all the riches of creation? There was a certain rich man. He often used to say this to the Jews,4 so that they would understand that the opulence of divinity belonged to him even in the poverty of his humanity. He was rich, indeed he was, he was rich in his majesty while being poor in the eyes of the Jews. And how was he not rich who had angels to attend him,5 the powers to obey him, and the elements to serve him, and seeing that things that did not yet exist were created at his bidding, and came to pass at his summons?6 4. There was a certain rich man, and he had a steward (v.1). Who is this, if not the human being to whom the possession of the world had been completely entrusted for cultivation? There was a certain rich man, and he had a steward, and a charge against him was brought before him (v.1). As if he did not foreknow, as if he did not foresee, he to whom secrets are known, and before whose eyes even what is hidden is laid bare.7 And a charge against him was brought before him. Therefore, was it a rumor8 that he believed, did he come to know it because of news spread by a rumor? Far from it! But at issue was that those things which he knew, which he was concealing out of kindness , he then began to investigate since the earth was making the accusation—“The cry of your brother’s blood is shouting out of the earth.”9 The earth is shouting, heaven is shouting, the angels were grieving, since by then the whole story was circulating all around the world. 5. And a charge against him was brought before him that he had squandered his property (v.1). Earlier we read that this man’s younger son had squandered his property,10 now it is asserted that the steward had squandered his goods. Just as the same 176 ST. PETER CHRYSOLOGUS 4. See Lk 12.16; 16.1 and 19. 5. See Mt 4.11 and Mk 1.13. 6. See Rom 4.17. 7...