5 November , 2022

 Gospel: Lk 16: 9-15 

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth,

so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

The person who is trustworthy in very small matters

is also trustworthy in great ones;

and the person who is dishonest in very small matters

is also dishonest in great ones.

If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth,

who will trust you with true wealth?

If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another,

who will give you what is yours?

No servant can serve two masters.

He will either hate one and love the other,

or be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Pharisees, who loved money,

heard all these things and sneered at him.

And he said to them,

“You justify yourselves in the sight of others,

but God knows your hearts;

for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Reflection:

Have you tried to be attached to your possessions and be generous at the same time? This is one example of what Jesus trying to tell us today. Money can buy food, clothing and shelter, yes these are important. When these are the priority over more important things, which money cannot buy, lik true friendship, love, caring, generosity, seflessness, health, etc , then is when the problems begin. Recently a family went out to dinner, and one of them noted, why are we wasting money on this gathering! Little does this person realise the value of the family gathering, more important than the money spent on it. When we set our priorities right, our heart becomes lighter, it is because we set our focus on the one who created us, and loves us, not on ourselves, and what we are going to do with what we 'possess'. This is the true understanding of gratuity and receiving from a God who loves us, unconditionally. 

Activity: 

Make a donation of your time, with someone who you think is a waste of time! And feel the depths of goodness within! It is the experience of what money cannot buy!