First Reading: Philippians 3:17 – 4:1
Brothers, be followers of me, and observe those who walk according to the model you have in us.
For many walk, of whom I have told you often and now tell you weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also look for the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform the body of our lowliness, made like to the body of His glory, by the power by which He is able to subject all things to Himself.
Therefore, my dearly beloved brothers, my joy and my crown, stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Alleluia: First John 2:5
Gospel: Luke 16:1-8
And He said also to His disciples: There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and the steward was accused to him that he had wasted his goods.
And he called him and said to him: Why do I hear this of you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can be steward no longer.
And the steward said within himself: What shall I do, because my lord takes away from me the stewardship? To dig I am not able, to beg I am ashamed. I know what I will do, that when I am removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
So calling together every one of his lord's debtors, he said to the first: How much do you owe my lord? He said: A hundred barrels of oil. And he said to him: Take your bill and sit down quickly and write fifty.
Then he said to another: And how much do you owe? He said: A hundred quarters of wheat. He said to him: Take your bill and write eighty.
And the master commended the dishonest steward for acting wisely, for the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.
Reflection
This steward is about to lose his job. He knows it. So what does he do? He quickly uses what is still in his hands to make friends who will welcome him later. He reduces debts, he acts fast. Jesus does not praise his cheating - He praises his wisdom. He knew time was short and he acted.
Paul says the same thing in a different way: some people live like earthly things are their god, but our citizenship is in heaven. We are waiting for Jesus who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body.
So what has God put in your hands today - time, money, talent, relationships? Use it wisely while you still can, not for yourself, but to build friendships that last into eternity. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord - that is where we are headed.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, everything I have is from you. Give me wisdom to use it faithfully and not waste it. Keep my heart from clinging to earthly things. Teach me to live like someone whose home is in heaven, to share generously, and to stand firm in you, my joy and my crown. Amen.
Readings are taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible, rendered in modern English for easy reading.
