Welcoming the Holy

Here we invite you to take time for yourself in personal prayer. The following spiritual reflection offers words and images which we hope will evoke for you an experience of God. 

Prayer

God help us to follow you, to do justice, love goodness and walk humbly in Your presence. Amen. (from Micah 6: 8,9)

Scripture

Luke 16: 1 – 13 (short form below)

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 both God and mammon."

Reflection 

This parable is one that often confounds us. How can Jesus use a parable of a steward who is dishonest or untrustworthy to make his point? In The Message translation of this passage, verse 9 reads: “I want you to be smart in the same way – but for what is right – using every adversity to stimulate you to create survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you’ll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior.” This makes a lot of sense. The steward is creative in his response to the Master and wants to be sure to incur favor with his colleagues, even after he is let go. He is looking out for his best interests.

Let us pray for one another, that we might practice being generous, creative and honest stewards of the many gifts we have been given. And, even when we do not agree with those in authority, civilly or in our Church, may we remember to pray for them.

Closing Prayer

You have laid down your precepts to be carefully kept; may my ways be firm in keeping your statutes. Amen (from the Communion Antiphon for Sunday)