Daily Readings - Fri Nov 08 2019
Romans
14But I am also certain about you, my brothers, that you also have been filled with love, completed with all knowledge, so that you are able to admonish one another15But I have written to you, brothers, more boldly than to the others, as if calling you to mind again, because of the grace which has been given to me from God16so that I may be a minister of Christ Jesus among the Gentiles, sanctifying the Gospel of God, in order that the oblation of the Gentiles may be made acceptable and may be sanctified in the Holy Spirit17Therefore, I have glory in Christ Jesus before God18So I dare not speak of any of those things which Christ does not effect through me, unto the obedience of the Gentiles, in word and deed19with the power of signs and wonders, by power of the Holy Spirit. For in this way, from Jerusalem, throughout its surroundings, as far as Illyricum, I have replenished the Gospel of Christ20And so I have preached this Gospel, not where Christ was known by name, lest I build upon the foundation of another21but just as it was written: "Those to whom he was not announced shall perceive, and those who have not heard shall understand.
Luke
1And he also said to his disciples: "A certain man was wealthy, and he had a steward of his estate. And this man was accused to him of having dissipated his goods2And he called him and said to him: ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship. For you can no longer be my steward.3And the steward said within himself: ‘What shall I do? For my lord is taking the stewardship away from me. I am not strong enough to dig. I am too ashamed to beg4I know what I will do so that, when I have been removed from the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.5And so, calling together each one of his lord’s debtors, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my lord?6So he said, ‘One hundred jars of oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your invoice, and quickly, sit down and write fifty.7Next, he said to another, ‘In truth, how much do you owe?’ And he said, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your record books, and write eighty.8And the lord praised the iniquitous steward, in that he had acted prudently. For the sons of this age are more prudent with their generation than are the sons of light
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of stewardship, wisdom, and faithfulness. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul speaks of his own mission as a steward of the Gospel, entrusted with the grace to preach to the Gentiles. He humbly acknowledges the gifts God has given him and expresses his confidence in the Roman church, which he believes is filled with love and knowledge. Paul’s words remind us that every Christian has a role to play in spreading the Gospel and building up the Body of Christ. The second reading from Luke presents us with the parable of the dishonest steward, who, faced with losing his position, uses his master’s resources to secure favor with others. While the steward’s actions are morally questionable, Jesus praises his prudence, emphasizing the importance of using worldly resources wisely for eternal purposes.
These readings are connected by the idea of responsibility and the wise use of what has been entrusted to us. Paul sees himself as a steward of God’s grace, while the dishonest steward in the Gospel uses his master’s wealth shrewdly, albeit for self-serving ends. Together, they challenge us to consider how we use the gifts, talents, and resources God has given us. The key is not to hoard them or use them selfishly but to employ them in a way that serves others and advances the Kingdom of God. Just as the steward in the parable thinks ahead to secure his future, we too must think about how our actions today will impact eternity.
In our daily lives, this means being faithful in small things, using our time, talents, and possessions with integrity and purpose. It also means being prudent and forward-thinking, not just for our own benefit but for the good of others. As St. Paul reminds us, we are all called to be ministers of Christ, each in our own way. Let us strive to be wise stewards, using what we have been given to build up the Church and to bring light and hope into a world that so desperately needs it. May we, like Paul, be confident in God’s grace and, like the steward, be shrewd in our pursuit of eternal treasure.