Daily Readings - Fri Nov 05 2021
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, responsibility, and the wise use of the gifts and resources entrusted to us. In the first reading from Romans, St. Paul speaks of his own stewardship as a minister of the Gospel. He humbly acknowledges the grace God has given him to serve the Gentiles and to spread the Gospel far and wide. Paul takes pride not in his own achievements but in the work Christ accomplishes through him. His words remind us that our lives are not our own but are entrusted to us for the service of others and the glory of God.
In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the shrewd steward, a man who, faced with losing his position, acts prudently to secure his future. While the steward’s actions may seem morally ambiguous, Jesus uses this story to highlight the wisdom of using worldly resources in a way that builds lasting relationships and secures eternal benefits. The sons of this world, Jesus notes, often show more ingenuity in managing temporal affairs than do the sons of light. This challenges us to consider how we use the resources, talents, and time God has given us. Are we as clever and intentional about living for God as others are about living for the world?
These readings call us to reflect on our own stewardship of God’s gifts. Like Paul, we are called to use our talents and resources to serve others and to build up the Body of Christ. Like the shrewd steward, we are invited to think creatively and act wisely, not for selfish gain, but for the sake of eternal treasures. Let us ask ourselves: How am I using what God has given me? Am I living in a way that reflects my ultimate purpose—to love God and to love my neighbor? May we strive to be faithful stewards, using all that we have to glorify God and to prepare for the eternal life that awaits us.