Reading 1
Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27
Brothers and sisters:
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus,
who risked their necks for my life,
to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles;
greet also the Church at their house.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus,
who was the firstfruits in Asia for Christ.
Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
Greet Andronicus and Junia,
my relatives and my fellow prisoners;
they are prominent among the Apostles
and they were in Christ before me.
Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ,
and my beloved Stachys.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ greet you.
I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole Church, greets you.
Erastus, the city treasurer,
and our brother Quartus greet you.
Now to him who can strengthen you,
according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and,
according to the command of the eternal God,
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ
be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Gospel
Lk 16:9-15
Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,
so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters
is also trustworthy in great ones;
and the person who is dishonest in very small matters
is also dishonest in great ones.
If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,
who will trust you with true wealth?
If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,
who will give you what is yours?
No servant can serve two masters.
He will either hate one and love the other,
or be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and mammon.”
The Pharisees, who loved money,
heard all these things and sneered at him.
And he said to them,
“You justify yourselves in the sight of others,
but God knows your hearts;
for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”
Meditation: Luke 16:9-15
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones. (Luke 16:10).
If we read these words in the context of today’s whole Gospel passage, we can see that Jesus considers money to be a “very small matter.” We may find that difficult to swallow. What about those of us who struggle every day to make ends meet? Does this mean that Jesus is telling us to stop working on our financial situation? That may be okay for someone like St. Francis of Assisi, but those of us who have to earn a living need to take a more aggressive approach!
Actually, Jesus does want to speak these words to everyone. He isn’t suggesting that we all take a vow of poverty, but he does want us to take a close look at our perspective on money. He wants us to see that in itself, money is neither “the root of all evils” nor a trivial matter to be ignored. Rather, Jesus is telling us that money is simply secondary when compared to our essential purpose, which is to know God through his Son Jesus, and to start living the life of heaven right now.
In a practical sense, this means that money does fit into the bigger picture of Christian living. As with anything else that God gives us, money is something we can use as a means to a greater end. By being careful in our spending and saving habits, we can use money as a tool to glorify the Lord. We are more free to donate to organizations that build his kingdom. At the same time, by guarding against the temptation to value money too much, we don’t let it become a snare that can draw us away from Jesus.
If you’re currently facing financial hardship, know that Jesus is with you and wants to help guide you and ease your anxieties. Think of the many ways he has cared for you in the past. Picture him on the cross, and recall his unending love for you. Know that he will never forsake you. Let his peace fill your heart, and don’t worry about tomorrow—he has it under control!
“Lord, help me to manage my finances wisely. I welcome you into this area of my life. Set me free from anxiety about my future, and make me a cheerful giver to those in need.”
No comments:
Post a Comment