Page:SermonsFromTheLatins.djvu/429

 haste their  notes  of  hand,  ordered  them  to  so  alter the bonds  that  the  debt  of  the  first  was  reduced  by one-half,  that  of  the  second  by  one-fifth,  and  so  on with  the  others  according  as  he  expected  from  each more or  less  kindness  when  he  failed. And his master, we  are  told,  commended  his  action  for  that he had  done  wisely. Herein consists  the  crux  of  the parable's difficulty. We may  say  that  the  steward had not  yet  been  deposed;  that  he  was  steward  still and acted  strictly  within  his  right  in  trying  to  undo some of  his  past  oppression,  but  none  the  less  humanly speaking  his  proceeding  was  dishonest  and practically forgery. Yet in  the  purely  human  aspect of the  case  may  we  not  find  some  sort  of  justification for him? You remember  the  parable  of  the  unmerciful servant  who,  though  his  master  had  forgiven  him all his  debts,  was  still  unwilling  to  forego  his  claims against his  fellow  servant  and  was  consequently  sold into slavery  until  he  had  paid  the  last  farthing. And, as  mercy's  rule  works  both  ways,  should  not  the steward be  forgiven  now  in  consideration  of  his  willingness to  forgive  others? But, you  say,  he  is  robbing Peter  to  recompense  Paul! Well, recollect  that we are  dealing  with  a  parable,  and  that  it  is  necessary to  strain  human  conditions  to  bring  them  into parallel with  the  divine. The steward  did  wisely,  because the  foolishness  of  this  world  is  wisdom  with God, and  the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolishness  before God. To store  up  riches  or  to  scatter  them among the  poor  will  appear  to  us  to  be  folly  or  wisdom, according  as  our  point  of  view  is  material  or