Commentary on the Gospel – November 7, 2025

There’s a scene from an old movie that has often made me think of this Gospel parable. It’s from The Godfather: Part II (1975). The film, as many know, tells the story of the head of a powerful mafia family and his struggle for control against rival families. The godfather is ruthless and strong—he defeats all his enemies.

The movie ends with the scene I always remember. The godfather sits in his vast mansion. He has destroyed all his rivals, even some of his own who betrayed him. He’s completely alone. Only his bodyguards are outside, watching over the enormous garden surrounding the house. Neither his wife nor his children have stayed by his side. Outside, in the garden, it’s autumn. The leaves fall, carried by a cold wind. The image of the godfather sitting in that chair is the image of utter loneliness. He fought with all his might. He won. But what he gained was total isolation.

This always brings to mind Jesus’ parable in today’s Gospel. The dishonest steward finds himself in a similar situation. Like the godfather, he’s in trouble—about to lose everything and end up out on the street. But unlike the godfather, he makes a different choice. Instead of resorting to violence or revenge, he uses his last chance to build relationships: “so that they may welcome me into their homes when I am dismissed.”

The unjust steward focuses on people, not possessions. He realizes that friendship, human connection, and fraternity are worth far more than money or power. He understands that relationships are the true answer to his crisis.

Jesus doesn’t praise his dishonesty or his lack of integrity—but He does praise his cleverness in finding the best way out of a desperate situation. And that way is the path of relationship, of friendship, of fraternity.

Maybe that’s also the answer to many of our own problems: to stop fighting for control, and start building bridges—because in the end, it’s not power or success that will save us, but love and friendship.