Daily Readings - Fri Nov 08 2019
Romans
14And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.15Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,16That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.17I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.18For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,19Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.20Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:21But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
Luke
1And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.2And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.3Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.4I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.5So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?6And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.7Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.8And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children 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.