Tinanggal ang bukol

Our Gospel today narrates Jesus’ most perplexing parable which has been interpreted variously. A master discovers that his steward has squandered his property and has decided to terminate his services. The steward strategizes a way to ingratiate him with his master’s debtors. To the debtor who owes the master 100 measures of oil, the steward instructs the farmer to revise the promissory note to indicate 50 instead of a 100 measures of oil. This he does with the various debtors of his master who upon discovering the wiliness of his steward praises him. So does Jesus. How can Jesus extol the dishonesty of the steward?

Some things about the agricultural system during Jesus’ time: Landowners of vast tracts of land leased portions of their land to small farmers. Many such landowners lived in the cities and hired a steward to administer their property. The small peasants paid their lease by giving a share of their produce, estimated to range from 25-50%, to the landowner.

Stewards enriched themselves by further exploiting the small farmers. For instance, while a farmer may have been obliged to turn over to the landowner 50 measures of olive oil, the steward would charge the farmer 100 measures of olive oil. The 50 measures the steward would hand-over to the landowner, the other 50 he would keep for himself or sell, the profit of which he would pocket.

Going back to our story, the landowner discovers that the steward has squandered his property, perhaps meaning to say even that which was due the master, the steward misappropriated. Or perhaps implying that the land was not utilized and leased for maximum profit. Fearing losing his job and being forced to beg or engage in manual labor, the steward makes a deal with the debtors of his master. With regard the one who owed the master 100 measures of olive oil, the steward halves his debt. And regarding the one who owed 100 kors of wheat, the steward lessens the debt to 80 kors. The small farmers are grateful, not knowing that the steward has simply removed his personal commission from their debts to the landowner. In our colloquial lingo, “Tinanggal niya ang bukol.”

As a consequence, he wins the favor of the small farmers, whom he knows will return the favor once he is removed from his post as administrator of the land. The steward manipulates the situation in order to evoke from the small farmers a debt of gratitude, utang na loob.

The landowner praises his steward for his craftiness. But so does Jesus. Biblical commentators explain that Jesus did not extol his dishonesty, but rather his zealousness and creativity in furthering his selfish goals. In contrast many of the children of the light are too passive in confronting evil and lackadaisical in promoting the values of the Kingdom. The children of the light ought to be as zealous and creative in advocating the Kingdom of God.

We have grown accustomed to corruption in our society.  The bukol in contracts has been institutionalized in many private industries and government agencies. Building permits are not processed unless grease money is given certain city hall employees. Imported cargo is not released unless corrupt customs personnel are given a lagay. Favorable decisions to court cases, can be bought, despite one’s guilt, for a price. Many tax assessors undervalue, for instance, real estate taxes, defrauding the state of needed funds, while ingratiating them with scrupulous citizens.

While Jesus praised the corrupt for their zeal in extorting from and defrauding others, would Jesus praise those among us who claim to be committed to the Gospel for our similar zealousness in promoting goodness, truth and justice?