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.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11R. (1b)
I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
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: Romans 16:3-9,16,22-27
Long before there were church buildings, Christians met for prayer and Eucharistic celebrations in each other’s homes. Prisca and Aquila, close friends and co-workers of St. Paul’s, could always be counted on to host such gatherings. Even though religious persecution and evangelical zeal caused them to relocate often, they never stopped welcoming fellow believers into their home.
Given the patriarchal traditions of first-century Rome, it is interesting to see that Prisca’s name (or her nickname, Priscilla) always comes first when she and Aquila are mentioned in Scripture. It’s possible that she came from a family of higher social status. But it’s also possible that she had stronger leadership skills, and so was better known. Whatever the reason, this fascinating couple dedicated themselves to spreading the gospel, with Prisca playing a key role.
When Paul first met Prisca and Aquila, they were already believers and had begun helping others, like Apollos, grow in their faith (Acts 18:1-3). As gifted as he was, Paul knew he needed close friends to help him live the gospel that he preached, and this couple seemed to be a perfect match. Recognizing them as like-minded in their love for the Lord and their commitment to building up the church, Paul became intimate friends with them. It didn’t hurt that they were tentmakers, just like himself —they were able to go into business together!
This heroic couple didn’t just want to have God in their lives; they wanted him to be at the center of their lives. Their story is a great encouragement to us, telling us that we too can find close friends in our church. We can find great support and strength from other believers who are also seeking to place Jesus at the center of their lives. Prisca and Aquila show us, also, that it’s not just the superheroes like Paul who are called to build the church. Look at all the other names Paul lists in today’s first reading, and you’ll see that each one had an impact on the people around them. There’s no reason why our names can’t be added to that list!
“Jesus, you created us for friendship. Deepen my friendships with other believers, so that I can experience your love more deeply and spread your gospel more effectively.”
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