Exploitation, cheating, and trickery all have negative connotations but imply varying degrees of depravity or sinfulness.

No one in church this weekend can escape the need to earn and manage money.

Liturgy is the most important catechism of the church because it's the one everyone learns just by showing up.

IF THE RECENT economic downturn and the ensuing unemployment trends in the U.S. and around the world have taught us anything, it is that money is an essential resource in our efforts to make this world a better place for all human beings.

The unjust steward in the gospel played by different rules than we're used to. We'd call the guy a cheat. Fortunately for him (though too bad for their customers), his boss played by the same rules.

Do we really think we can fool God and get away with what we know in our hearts is cruel, mean, unfair, unkind, or dishonest behavior? Sometimes our society seems to indicate that something is immoral only when we get caught. But in the depths of our hearts we know better than that.

What would be the spiritual parallel to what the unjust steward did in the material world?

We ask God to look upon us with mercy and forgiveness.

In presenting the choice between God and mammon, Luke sees riches as a god, an idol, almost a demonic power that rules this world.

Behold the miracle of poverty! Yes, the rich were strangers; but service to the poor has naturalized them and serves to rid them of the contagion that lies in the midst of their riches. --Bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627-1704)