Today we hear the prophet Amos speak about justice and the need for us to beware of actions that neglect and/or exploit the needy (Amos 8:4-7).

And we hear Jesus pick up on this theme in today’s gospel (Luke 16:1-13).

With the parable of the prudent steward Jesus makes the point that it is by focusing our hearts and minds on God and our spiritual lives that we live as  “children of light”  in pursuit of the justice that God desires.  By putting God first in our lives we come to the realization that all the good in our lives is a gift from God. By putting God first in our lives we realize that we are called to share the gifts that God bestows on us with those more needy than us.  This prudent stewardship of God’s gifts – a stewardship that flows from love and compassion, a stewardship that allows the needy to realize their own true dignity as children of God – is the justice God desires.