The Unjust Steward
an excerpt from St. Gaudentius, Bishop of Brescia

It is fitting that one who is given to sacred wisdom should at all times dwell upon the teachings of Wisdom, and apply all the power of his mind, all the keenness of his soul, to understanding them.  And it is because of this that you who are acquainted with the teachings of the worldly wisdom should learn of True Wisdom from its Sacred Writings, and not cease from searching into the hidden meanings of the words of Christ, Who is also known to you, from the teaching of the Apostle, as the Power of God and as the Wisdom of God. Among the discourses of the Divine Law, whose explanation you are wont to look for from me, this also you have asked of me, this might explain to you (in writing) the very difficult parable of the Unjust Steward, since none of our treatises seem to you to offer an adequate explanation. The explanation you wish to be given in writing so that you may have the manuscript of my reply on this chapter, which is as you confess so very obscure. Since you ask me to speak, or rather to write, I shall not be frightened to say what I understand here, within the limits of my mind, and saving what faith teaches us.  But first, Beloved, let us have the words of this lesson.