Daily Readings - Sat Nov 08 2025

³Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus.⁴They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.⁵Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.⁶Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.⁷Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.⁸Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.⁹Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.¹⁶Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.²²I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.²³Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.²⁴Verse omitted from the New International Version²⁵Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past,²⁶but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him--²⁷to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Luke

Chapter 16

⁹I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.¹⁰"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.¹¹So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?¹²And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?¹³"No servant can serve two masters. 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 both God and Money."¹⁴The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.¹⁵He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful messages that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and with one another. The first reading from Romans is a beautiful expression of gratitude and unity within the early Christian community. Paul greets various individuals and families, acknowledging their contributions to the faith and expressing deep appreciation for their support. This passage reminds us that the Church is not just an institution but a family bound together by love and shared purpose. The reading concludes with a doxology, a hymn of praise to God, who alone is wise and worthy of eternal glory. The Gospel from Luke presents a different tone, as Jesus challenges us to think critically about our priorities. He urges us to use worldly resources wisely, not for selfish gain, but to build relationships that will endure beyond this life. Jesus emphasizes faithfulness in small things, teaching that our trustworthiness in little matters reflects our character in greater ones. He then confronts the temptation of greed, warning that we cannot serve both God and money. The Pharisees, who were consumed by materialism, ridicule Jesus’ words, but He reminds them—and us—that what matters most is not human approval but the judgment of God, who sees into the depths of our hearts. These readings call us to live with integrity and purpose. The example of the early Christian community in Romans shows us the importance of gratitude, collaboration, and mutual support. We are reminded that our faith is not a solitary journey but one lived out in communion with others. From Luke, we learn the necessity of prioritizing God above all else, using the resources we have—time, talent, and treasure—to serve Him and others. Let us strive to be faithful in small ways each day, knowing that these actions shape who we are and prepare us for greater things. May we also avoid the trap of greed, instead choosing to live simply, generously, and with hearts fixed on eternal truths.