Daily Readings - Sat Nov 11 2023

³Greet Prisca and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus⁴who have risked their own necks on behalf of my life, for whom I give thanks, not I alone, but also all the churches of the Gentiles⁵and greet the church at their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is among the first-fruits of Asia in Christ⁶Greet Mary, who has labored much among you⁷Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and fellow captives, who are noble among the Apostles, and who were in Christ prior to me⁸Greet Ampliatus, most beloved to me in the Lord⁹Greet Urbanus, our helper in Christ Jesus, and Stachys, my beloved¹⁶Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you²²I, Tertius, who wrote this epistle, greet you in the Lord²³Gaius, my host, and the entire church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, and Quartus, a brother²⁴The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen²⁵But to him who is able to confirm you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, in accord with the revelation of the mystery which has been hidden from time immemorial²⁶(which now has been made clear through the Scriptures of the Prophets, in accord with the precept of the eternal God, unto the obedience of faith) which has been made known among all the Gentiles²⁷to God, who alone is wise, through Jesus Christ, to him be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen

Luke

Chapter 16

⁹And so I say to you, make friends for yourself using iniquitous mammon, so that, when you will have passed away, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles¹⁰Whoever is faithful in what is least, is also faithful in what is greater. And whoever is unjust in what is small, is also unjust in what is greater¹¹So then, if you have not been faithful with iniquitous mammon, who will trust you with what is true¹²And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours¹³No servant is able to serve two lords. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will cling to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.¹⁴But the Pharisees, who were greedy, were listening to all these things. And they ridiculed him¹⁵And he said to them: "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the sight of men. But God knows your hearts. For what is lifted up by men is an abomination in the sight of God

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages about faith, gratitude, and the right use of resources. In the first reading from Romans, Paul sends greetings to various members of the early Christian community, expressing deep gratitude for their support and acknowledging their contributions to the spread of the Gospel. He concludes with a beautiful doxology, praising God for His wisdom and eternal plan. This passage reminds us of the importance of community, collaboration, and recognizing the role each person plays in the Body of Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus teaches a parable about the proper use of material wealth. He urges us to use our resources wisely, not for selfish gain, but to build relationships and store up treasures in heaven. Jesus also warns against the danger of greed and the impossibility of serving both God and money, emphasizing that our hearts must be aligned with God’s priorities. The readings are connected by the theme of trust and faithfulness. In Romans, Paul trusts in God’s plan and the support of the community, while in the Gospel, Jesus calls us to trust in God’s providence rather than in wealth. Both readings challenge us to evaluate our priorities and ensure that our actions reflect our commitment to God. The early Christians in Rome were faithful in their support of Paul’s mission, and Jesus calls us to be faithful stewards of the resources we have been given. This faithfulness is not just about money but about how we live our lives in accordance with God’s will. As we reflect on these readings, let us consider how we use the gifts and resources God has entrusted to us. Are we using them to build up the community and serve others, or are we allowing greed and selfishness to take root in our hearts? Let us strive to be faithful in small things, knowing that faithfulness in little leads to faithfulness in much. May we also cultivate gratitude for the people and blessings in our lives, just as Paul did. Ultimately, today’s readings remind us that our true treasure is not in this world but in the eternal life God promises us. Let us keep our eyes fixed on heaven and live in a way that reflects our ultimate allegiance to God.