Gospel: (Luke 16:1-13)

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said…’Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward. The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do?… I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg….So he called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and write fifty.’ Then to another who owed one hundred kors of wheat, he said “Here is your promissory note, write one for eighty.’ And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

Reflection:

Prudent decisiveness that this gospel recommends means that we recognize that all our choices in daily living are really choices for eternal life. We honestly try to live good lives. When opportunities present themselves to act in a Christian way, most of us respond appropriately most of the time. This gospel challenges us to take this one step further. With an eye to the future, we must surrender ourselves to searching out opportunities to live the paschal mystery. There is such an urgency about discipleship that we cannot be passive in any way. Just as Jesus did all he needed to do to make his message known, so must we be as proactive in our own discipleship. (Living Liturgy, p.212)

Vincentian Meditation:

“Admission into heaven is something money cannot buy. The only currency that has any value to secure our entrance is that of love. In a world where so many things can be brought with money, often our minds center more on money than upon love. What Jesus is trying to tell us is that money is a good servant but a bad master. When money is employed as a servant, it can bring joy and comfort to millions and especially to those who have little or none of it. But let money become our master, let it take the first place in our lives and it can be a tyrant. It can harder our hearts and blind our vision of the supreme realities of our existence. Millions of dollars passed through the hands of St. Vincent and he made every cent a good servant. Vincent regarded the money which he received or possessed as the “patrimony of the poor,” and so it was always to be used for the benefit of the poor.” (McCullen, Deep Down Things,p. 560)

Discussion: (Share your thoughts after a moment of silence)

In what ways are we challenged to make our money a “true servant” not a master?                                                          

Closing Prayer:

Lord, as pilgrims on the journey,
-may we travel together in charity and service.

Lord, as servants of the poor and one another,
-may we reach out our hands in charity and service.

Lord, as we daily embrace the call to live in integrity,
–may we reach out our hearts in charity and service.

Amen