Daily Readings - Sat Nov 11 2017

³Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,⁴who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.⁵Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.⁶Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.⁷Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.⁸Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.⁹Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.¹⁶Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.²²I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.²³Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.²⁴See Footnote²⁵Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages²⁶but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith--²⁷to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Luke

Chapter 16

⁹And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.¹⁰"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.¹¹If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?¹²And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?¹³No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."¹⁴The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.¹⁵And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two distinct yet interconnected themes: the importance of community and the prudent use of resources. The first reading from Romans is a heartfelt farewell from Paul, where he acknowledges the contributions of various individuals and communities, highlighting the value of unity and mutual support. This passage emphasizes the strength found in shared faith and collaboration. The Gospel from Luke, however, shifts focus to Jesus’ teachings on wealth and service, urging us to use our resources wisely and remain faithful in our stewardship, while cautioning against the pitfalls of greed and the impossibility of serving both God and money. The connection between these readings lies in their emphasis on relationships—whether with others or with material wealth. Paul’s letter underscores the bonds within the Christian community, while Jesus’ parable reminds us that our relationship with wealth is a reflection of our faithfulness. Both readings call us to trustworthiness and integrity, whether in our interactions with others or in our management of resources. In our daily lives, these teachings encourage us to be faithful in our duties and generous with our resources, using them to foster positive relationships and support others. The moral lesson here is clear: prioritize God over material wealth, cultivate a spirit of service, and embrace generosity. By doing so, we build a community grounded in faith and trustworthiness, reflecting the values upheld by Paul and taught by Jesus.