Today’s Gospel:  Luke 16:1-8

REFLECTION
Today's Gospel tells us about the steward who is cited for his shrewdness.  The original meaning of "shrewdness" is "foresight".  A shrewd person grasps a critical situation with resolution and foresight.

Jesus makes the observation that those who are honest in the little details of inconsequential things can be trusted to be honest with large responsibilities and large amounts of money. He is concerned here with something more critical than a financial crisis.  His concern is that we avert spiritual crisis through the exercise of faith and foresight.

Love of money and wealth crowd out love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus makes clear that our hearts must either be possessed by God's love or our hearts will be possessed by the love of something else.

True wealth consists not in what we keep but in what we give away. Possessions are a great responsibility. The Lord expects us to use them honestly and responsibly and to put them at his service and the service of others. We are God's servants and all that we have belong to him. He expects us to make a good return on what he gives us. God loves generosity and he gives liberally to those who share his gifts with others.

If Christians would only expend as much foresight and energy to spiritual matters which have eternal consequences as much as they do to earthly matters which have temporal consequences, then they would be truly better off, both in this life and in the age to come.

It raises an important question for you and me: Can we be trusted with the trivial? Will we do the little jobs with as much integrity and care as the great opportunities?

- MA

Today’s Reading:  Philippians 3:17-4:1

PRAYER
Father Almighty, all that I have is a gift from you.  Help me be your wise and faithful steward. May I never forget that all that I have are yours. Free me from greed and possessiveness and fill me with generosity in giving wholeheartedly to others, especially those in need.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.