269 part i: sunday meditations for the entire year Consider how often secular lords disregard and postpone the reception of accounts from their stewards, until they hear something evil spoken of them. In a similar manner this rich man in the Gospel acted with his steward, who was defamed before him, because he had wasted his goods. No differently does that heavenly Lord disregard the sins of those who serve Him, until they burst forth in the open. Thus, He endured for a long time the sons of Eli, but when the people began to be scandalized by their plunders, He hastened to call them to give an account by a terrible death (cf. 1 Sam 2:12-34). Hence learn that God waits for the correction of hidden sins for a long time and patiently; whereas public scandals, even if less serious, are punished quickly and severely. 3. “What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me?” (Lk 16:3). This certainly is the last good fortune of wicked servants: to be roused from the profound lethargy of their sins, especially by imminent punishment for their bad stewardship. Fortunate are you if you imitate the praised foresight of today’s steward. He is called to make a settlement of the accounts, and since he foresees that in doing so he is to undergo a great danger, he donates much to his debtors, so that also his own debts would be forgiven him.117 The Lord will require also from you, both at another time and in today’s Communion, an account of the words, deeds and thoughts, and all things by which you have offended Him. O you, miserable one! What kind of ruse will you resort to then? Are you going to be so out of your mind and insane, that you will retain in your soul some hatred against your neighbor, wanting to avoid God’s hatred? Or will you not wholeheartedly forgive everyone for injuries and offenses, desiring that God grant you a similar grace? [f.71v] 117 The Gospel does not mention the debt of the stewar; this is St. Stanislaus’ own interpretation.
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