Don’t allow wealth to lead into dishonesty

November 7, 2015

Saturday of the Thirty-first week in Ordinary Time

Saint of the day : Saint Willibrord, Bishop (657-739)

Letter to the Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27

3Greet Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus,[1] 4who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5greet also the church at their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the firstfruits in Asia for Chrst.[2] 6Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles and they were in Christ before me.[3] 8Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.

16Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

22I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.  )24(

25Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages 26but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, 27to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen.)

Psalms 145:2-5, 10-11

2Every day I will bless you; I will praise your name forever and ever. 3Great is the LORD and worthy of much praise, whose grandeur is beyond understanding. 4One generation praises your deeds to the next and proclaims your mighty works. 5They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory, tell of your wonderful deeds.

10All your works give you thanks, LORD and your faithful bless you. 11They speak of the glory of your reign and tell of your mighty works.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 16:9-15

9I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.[4][5]

10The 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.[6]

11If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? 12If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?

13No 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."[7]

14The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at Him.[8][9]

15And 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.

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Notes on Readings

[1] Romans 16:3 - Prisca and Aquila: presumably the couple mentioned at Acts 18:2 ; 1 Corinthians 16:19; 2 Timothy 4:19.

[2] Romans 16:5 - The church at their house: that meets there, that is. Such local assemblies (compare with1 Corinthians 16:19 ; Collosians 4:15; Philemon 1:2) might consist of only one or two dozen Christians each. It is understandable, therefore, that such smaller groups might experience difficulty in relating to one another on certain issues. Firstfruits: compare with Romans 8:23; 11:16; 1 Corinthians 16:15.

[3] Romans 16:7 - The name Junia is a woman's name. One ancient Greek manuscript and a number of ancient versions read the name "Julia." Most editors have interpreted it as a man's name, Junias.

[4] Luke 16:8b-9 - The first conclusion recommends the prudent use of one's wealth (in the light of the coming of the end of the age) after the manner of the children of this world, represented in the parable by the dishonest steward.

[5] Luke 16:9 - Dishonest wealth: literally, "mammon of iniquity." Mammon is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic word that is usually explained as meaning "that in which one trusts." The characterization of this wealth as dishonest expresses a tendency of wealth to lead one to dishonesty. Eternal dwellings: or, "eternal tents," i.e., heaven. his opposed to the teachings.

[6] Luke 16:10-12 - The second conclusion recommends constant fidelity to those in positions of responsibility.

[7] Luke 16:13 - The third conclusion is a general statement about the incompatibility of serving God and being a slave to riches. To be dependent upon wealth is opposed to the teachings of Jesus who counseled complete dependence on the Father as one of the characteristics of the Christian disciple (Luke 12:22-39). God and mammon: see the footnote on Luke 16:9. Mammon is used here as if it were itself a god.

[8] Luke 16:14-18 - The two parables about the use of riches in ch 16 are separated by several isolated sayings of Jesus on the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Luke 16:14-15), on the law (Luke 16:16-17), and on divorce (Luke 16:18).

[9] Luke 16:14-15 - The Pharisees are here presented as examples of those who are slaves to wealth (see Luke 16:13) and, consequently, they are unable to serve God.