Author: admin

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Gospel: Luke 16: 1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
‘What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.’
The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.’
He called in his master’s debtors one by one.
To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’
Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’  
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.’
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than the children of light.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Many work hard to achieve the American Dream. We spend our youth preparing for college, our working years advancing our career, and in the end, we hope to leave an inspiring legacy for those who come after us.

That’s a good thing. It’s good to work hard, to be creative, to take initiative.

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That’s why Jesus praises the dishonest steward in today’s Gospel. 

Though he’s made several mistakes and wasted his master’s fortune, this steward devises a scheme to repay those debts while forging new business relationships for the future.

He’s determined and creative.  And because of it, he carves out a future for himself, even after being fired.

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Jesus challenges us to put that same type of effort into our spiritual lives – to be as determined to serve the Lord as we are to be successful in life.

For example, some men pride themselves on being good mechanics; they believe they can fix anything.

Jesus might say to us today, “Brothers, are you as good at fixing the wounds in your family or the wounds in your heart as you are at fixing your car?”

Or, “Do you work as hard at being holy as you do at being successful?”

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Many women pride themselves on their ability to creatively turn their house into a tastefully decorated home.

Jesus might ask, “Are you as equally creative in cultivating Christian virtues – charity, patience, and forgiveness in your family?”

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That’s the Gospel challenge – to be as determined in spiritual affairs as we are in worldly affairs.

How might we put effort into our spiritual lives today?

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Image credits: (1) SLO Classical Academy (2) St. Mary Magdalen Orthodox Church (3) Henri Nouwen, Quote Fancy

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Gospel:

The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus,
but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying,
“This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 
So Jesus addressed this parable to them.
“What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them
would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert
and go after the lost one until he finds it?
And when he does find it,
he sets it on his shoulders with great joy
and, upon his arrival home,
he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ 
I tell you, in just the same way
there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous people
who have no need of repentance.

“Or what woman having ten coins and losing one
would not light a lamp and sweep the house,
searching carefully until she finds it?
And when she does find it,
she calls together her friends and neighbors
and says to them,
‘Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.’ 
In just the same way, I tell you,
there will be rejoicing among the angels of God
over one sinner who repents.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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It’s not the shepherd’s fault that this sheep wandered off. But he’s the one who pays the price. He travels over mountains, through valleys, thickets and woods, looking for his lost sheep.

Wandering alone into the woods was risky, certainly as night fell. There could’ve been thieves, robbers, or other creatures lurking in the darkness, waiting to pounce on him.

Still, this shepherd risks his life in order to save his sheep.

That’s the goodness of God, who freely offers himself for us, we who’ve wandered off into the darkness – separating ourselves from God – for one reason or another.

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When have I wandered away from the Lord?

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Notice what happens when the shepherd finds his sheep.

The common practice would’ve been to break the sheep’s legs in order to prevent it from wandering off again, but this shepherd just picks it up, puts it on his shoulders, and gives it a free ride home. 

He doesn’t punish it for wandering off; he embraces the sheep joyfully.

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Jesus tells us that this is how God sees us. When we wander off, the Lord doesn’t stop looking for us until we’re found.

And when the Lord finds us – often in confession – he doesn’t punish us for wandering off; rather, he gives us a free ride home, back to the Church – back to this community of faith, where we belong.

Today let’s pray for all those who feel lost, unwelcome, or who have yet to experience the love of God, that they, too, may be found.

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Image credits: (1) Routinely Nomadic, Robert Frost (2) Pursue Wandering Sheep, 9marks.com (3) Jesus as Shepherd with Sheep Over Shoulders, Melani Pyke, Fine Art America

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Gospel: Matthew 5: 1-12

“When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 
He began to teach them, saying:

    “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
        for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
    Blessed are they who mourn,
        for they will be comforted.
    Blessed are the meek,
        for they will inherit the land.
    Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
        for they will be satisfied.
    Blessed are the merciful,
        for they will be shown mercy.
    Blessed are the clean of heart,
        for they will see God.
    Blessed are the peacemakers,
        for they will be called children of God.
    Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
        for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
    Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
        and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
    Rejoice and be glad,
        for your reward will be great in heaven.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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The Saints are the merciful, the clean of heart, and the peacemakers, whom Jesus blesses in today’s Gospel.

Some examples include: 

Peter, the first Pope, who offered his life for Jesus.

Paul, the greatest missionary in history.

Francis of Assisi, an instrument of God’s peace.

And Teresa of Calcutta, a modern-day Saint, who showed the world how to love the poor.

These men and women changed the world. And, rightly, they’re revered as Saints.

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But most of the Saints were ordinary men and women like us.

Saint Conrad was a doorman. For 40 years, he stood and welcomed pilgrims to a Marian shrine in Germany.

Saint Zita was a cook.

Other Saints were barbers, farmers, maids, soldiers, and soccer players.

There’s nothing extraordinary about what they did; we can all welcome people coming to church, cook a meal in our soup kitchen, till the land in our backyard, or kick a soccer ball.

What’s the difference? What made them Saints? 

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They did ordinary tasks with extraordinary love, living out that great prayer of Saint Francis: 

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.”

Bring the love of God wherever you go, and you, too, will be a Saint.

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Image credits: (1) Almost Saints, Denver Catholic (2) Pref-Tech (3) Dreamstime.com