Nov. 6, 2015 Friday: 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Nov. 6, 2015 Friday: 31st Week in Ordinary Time
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’” LUKE 16:1–2
Reflection:
We can become, for shorter or much longer periods, wasteful persons. We waste so much time on text-messaging, reading and responding to e-mails, downloading music and videos, watching YouTube, and playing games. With deep unawareness, we waste so much food, water, electricity, heat, gas, and oil. We take for granted the many caring and generous people who have invested in us for our future success and happiness. Much of life is often wasted on unreflective, meaningless, unproductive, and random adventures. We have suffered the consequences of living carelessly and irresponsibly. It usually takes some painful experience of personal loss, failure, disappointment, or sickness to bring us to our senses.
We cannot look into the future. We do not know our length of days on earth. We must, however, be responsible for the life we have and use our gifts and talents in a way that lifts up the poor, frees the oppressed, and promotes the common good of all.
The gospel is a wake-up call for us to become less self-centered and selfish. Jesus reminds us that we have been entrusted with the riches of the kingdom of God: love, compassion, and peace. As servants of Christ, we are responsible for making God’s kingdom a reality on earth through our words and actions. Our work in the world is to show others how to love, serve the poor, and live in peace and unity with all people.
Ponder: What is God’s purpose for my life?
Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the kingdom of God on earth. Help me to live and serve all people with love, compassion, and peace in my heart.
Rev. Warren J. Savage & Mary Ann McSweeny
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was squandering his property. So he summoned him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Give me an account of your management, because you cannot be my manager any longer.’” LUKE 16:1–2
Reflection:
We can become, for shorter or much longer periods, wasteful persons. We waste so much time on text-messaging, reading and responding to e-mails, downloading music and videos, watching YouTube, and playing games. With deep unawareness, we waste so much food, water, electricity, heat, gas, and oil. We take for granted the many caring and generous people who have invested in us for our future success and happiness. Much of life is often wasted on unreflective, meaningless, unproductive, and random adventures. We have suffered the consequences of living carelessly and irresponsibly. It usually takes some painful experience of personal loss, failure, disappointment, or sickness to bring us to our senses.
We cannot look into the future. We do not know our length of days on earth. We must, however, be responsible for the life we have and use our gifts and talents in a way that lifts up the poor, frees the oppressed, and promotes the common good of all.
The gospel is a wake-up call for us to become less self-centered and selfish. Jesus reminds us that we have been entrusted with the riches of the kingdom of God: love, compassion, and peace. As servants of Christ, we are responsible for making God’s kingdom a reality on earth through our words and actions. Our work in the world is to show others how to love, serve the poor, and live in peace and unity with all people.
Ponder: What is God’s purpose for my life?
Prayer: Lord, I am grateful for the kingdom of God on earth. Help me to live and serve all people with love, compassion, and peace in my heart.
Rev. Warren J. Savage & Mary Ann McSweeny
