Daily Readings - Fri Nov 06 2020
Philippians
17Be imitators of me, brothers, and observe those who are walking similarly, just as you have seen by our example18For many persons, about whom I have often told you (and now tell you, weeping,) are walking as enemies of the cross of Christ19Their end is destruction; their god is their belly; and their glory is in their shame: for they are immersed in earthly things20But our way of life is in heaven. And from heaven, too, we await the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ21who will transform the body of our lowliness, according to the form of the body of his glory, by means of that power by which he is even able to subject all things to himself
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 how we live our lives in light of our ultimate destiny. In the first reading from Philippians, St. Paul urges us to stand firm in our faith and to imitate those who live according to the Gospel. He warns against being consumed by earthly desires and reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven, where we await the return of Christ, who will transform our bodies and make them glorious like his own. This passage calls us to keep our eyes fixed on heaven while navigating the challenges of this world.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest steward, who, when faced with losing his position, cleverly secures his future by reducing the debts of his master’s clients. While the steward’s actions are morally questionable, Jesus praises his prudence and resourcefulness. The parable challenges us to think about how we use the resources and talents entrusted to us. Just as the steward used his worldly wisdom to secure his future, we are called to use our gifts wisely to build up treasures in heaven.
These readings remind us that our lives must be lived with purpose and integrity. While we are in this world, we must not be enslaved by its fleeting attractions. Instead, we should use our time, talents, and resources to serve God and others, knowing that our ultimate reward lies in heaven. Let us strive to be prudent and faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us, using these gifts to build a life that reflects our citizenship in heaven. May we live in such a way that when our time on earth is over, we will be welcomed into the eternal life that Christ has prepared for us.