Daily Readings - Fri Nov 04 2022
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
In today’s readings, we are invited to reflect on our focus and actions in light of our eternal destiny. The first reading from Philippians encourages us to imitate Paul and live according to the Gospel, warning against a life centered on earthly desires. Paul reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven, where we await Christ’s return to transform our bodies. This passage emphasizes living with a heavenly perspective, urging us to stand firm in our faith.
The Gospel parable of the dishonest steward challenges us to think about how we manage the resources entrusted to us. The steward, facing dismissal, secures his future by reducing the debts of others, earning his master’s praise for shrewdness. Jesus highlights that worldly people often handle their affairs more astutely than believers, prompting us to consider how we use our resources to build eternal treasures.
Both readings connect by urging us to live with intentionality and foresight. While the Philippians reading focuses on a heavenly orientation, the parable encourages prudent use of earthly resources for eternal gain. In our daily lives, this means making decisions that reflect our ultimate goal of heaven, using our resources wisely to serve others and build a lasting legacy. The moral lesson is clear: live with purpose, using your resources to glorify God and serve others, ensuring that your actions today lead to eternal rewards tomorrow.