In a society contaminated by the "smog of corruption", the Christian must be "clever" and have "flair": in fact, "he cannot afford to be naive" because he guards a "treasure that is the Holy Spirit". The reflection proposed by Pope Francis during the Mass celebrated at Santa Marta on the morning of Friday, 10 November, touched on one of the open wounds of contemporary man. And, in addressing the conscience of each person, he particularly questioned those in society who have collective responsibilities of government and administration.

The starting point of the homily was the Gospel passage of the day, in which Luke (16:1-8) moves from the "three parables of mercy" to a "totally different" subject through the parable of the dishonest steward. While the previous ones described "the story of God, the story of love, the story of mercy", here we come to "a story of corruption".

The Pontiff summarised the story of a rich man who 'had heard how his company was being administered' and noticed 'something suspicious about the administrator'. A dishonest character who, evidently, 'had a long hand' and, knowing well how to juggle, 'went on for a long time, until the rich man noticed'. And how did the administrator react? It is the same Gospel story, reported by the Pope, that plumbs his thoughts: "But now with this habit I have of easy gain, must I go back to work? To earn my bread by sweat? To get up every day at six in the morning? No, no, no'.

From this awareness, the Pontiff explained, comes the contrivance of the administrator who begins to 'rope in others who are corrupt'. And even if 'some of these were not corrupt', he nevertheless 'liked the proposal and entered into corruption'. Francis commented: 'These are powerful people! When they engage in corruption they are powerful; they even go as far as mafia-like attitudes'. And he emphasised that what is described in this parable 'is not a fable', it is not 'a story that we have to look for in ancient history books: we find it in the newspapers, every day'. In fact, he added, 'this happens even today, especially with those who have the responsibility of administering the people's goods'. After all, 'with one's goods no one is corrupt, he defends them'.

The conclusion of the Gospel passage opened the way for the Pontiff's considerations. First of all, we read 'that the master praised that dishonest steward because he had acted shrewdly'. In fact, the Pope explained, the corrupt generally 'are cunning', they know how to carry out their dishonest conduct well: "Even with courtesy, with silken gloves, but they do it well". And, above all, in the story there is Jesus' final comment: 'For the children of this world, towards their peers, with their peers, are shrewder than the children of light'. Here then is "the consequence that Jesus takes from this story, which is an everyday story. The shrewdness of these'.

It was precisely from here that Francis began to deepen his reflection, asking himself: "But if these are more cunning than Christians - but I will not say Christians, because many corrupt people also call themselves Christians - if these are more cunning than those faithful to Jesus, I ask myself: but is there a Christian cunning?".

The parable then offered the Pope the cue to consider the concrete life of the Christian, who is confronted daily with the scourge of corruption. Francis started with a question: "Is there an attitude for those who want to follow Jesus" so that "they do not end up badly, that they do not end up being eaten alive - as my mother used to say: 'Eaten raw' - by others"? What, in short, is 'Christian shrewdness', a shrewdness, that is, "that is not sinful, but serves to bring me forward in the service of the Lord and also in the help of others?" Is there such a thing as 'Christian shrewdness'?

The answer, said the Pope, comes directly from the Gospel, where we find "some words, some sayings that help us understand if there is - I will say - Christian cunning in order to go forward without falling into the ranks of corruption". Jesus, in fact, uses "contrasts" for this purpose, such as the one between "lambs" and "wolves" ("I send you out as lambs among wolves") by which it is understood that "the Christian is a lamb who has to get by with wolves". And therefore, through "another paradox", he is given advice: "Be therefore prudent as the serpents and simple as the dove".

But, Francis continued, "how does one arrive at this attitude of prudence like serpents and simplicity like doves?" Again the suggestion comes from Jesus, who "repeats many times in the Gospel: 'Be careful, be careful. Look, look at the signs of the times: when the fig tree begins to make leaves, it is because spring is near; when the almond tree blossoms, spring is near'. It is necessary, that is, to be 'attentive to what is happening', to look well, to keep 'your eyes open'.It is precisely this, the Pontiff explained, the first attitude that leads us to 'Christian shrewdness': attention to what is happening. Cultivating, that is, that 'sense of healthy distrust', which leads us, for example, to say: 'I don't trust this one, he talks too much, promises too much...'. As happens when someone proposes: 'Make the investment in my bank I will give you double the interest that others give' - 'Oh, how nice!'". And instead the shrewd person realises that 'this is too much'. The Christian, therefore, 'be careful, watch the signs of the times'.

Then there is a second suggestion: 'reflect'. One must, Francis suggested, 'not be quick to accept certain proposals, because the devil always does this with us; he comes with a feigned humility'. The same thing happened to Eve: "But look at this apple, it's beautiful, eh!" - "No, but I cannot eat it" - "But look, if you eat it you will become..."'. A story that everyone knows about the devil's 'seduction'. We must therefore 'be careful and reflect', bearing in mind that 'the devil knows by which door to enter our heart, because he knows our weaknesses. Everyone has his own. And he knocks on that door, he enters through that door'.

Finally, a third element: 'pray'. If you have these three attitudes, said the Pope, "be sure that you will arrive at this Christian shrewdness that does not allow itself to be deceived, does not allow itself to be sold a piece of glass believing it to be precious stones. And so we will be, as Jesus says: 'Careful as serpents and simple as doves'". And 'we will have the Christian nose for the things that happen'.

In conclusion, as usual, the Pontiff suggested a prayer intention linked to the meditation he had just completed: "Let us pray today to the Lord to give us this grace to be shrewd, shrewd Christians, to have this Christian shrewdness", because "if there is one thing a Christian cannot afford, it is to be naive". In fact "as Christians we have a treasure inside: the treasure that is the Holy Spirit. We must guard it'. He who "allows himself to be robbed of the Spirit" is naive. And a Christian "cannot afford to be naive".

Asking the Lord for "this grace of Christian shrewdness and Christian flair", the Pope concluded, is also "a good opportunity to pray for the corrupt". After all, Francis said, "we speak of the smog that causes pollution", but there is also "a smog of corruption in society". Therefore, "let us pray for the corrupt: poor things, may they find their way out of that prison into which they wanted to enter."

[Pope Francis, St. Martha, in L'Osservatore Romano 11.11.2017]