September 22, 2013: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Ask Jesus to teach you what he means by “true wealth”. And think of someone who had lived with the true wealth such as Saint Mother Theodore Guerin.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“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.” (Luke 16:10-13)

Gospel Reflection:

Jesus tells a story of a dishonest employee (Luke 16:1-13). The employee likes stuff and steals to get it. The whole story is very puzzling. What does Jesus mean by this story?
It’s clear that he wants people to be honest.
He says that this dishonest man has a scheme and is smart enough to take care of himself.
Jesus wants us to think ahead and to trust God for the future but to be very careful with the things of this world. Jesus wants honesty in the smallest detail of every day life. He’s trying to make us aware of how lying works.
If someone takes a little thing that belongs to someone else the person can say, “It’s no big deal.” The big deal is that it makes it easier to steal the next time. It’s the same thing with small lies, like saying, “I’m sick” when we really mean, “I’m tired and don’t want to do that.” We know “sick” covers a lot of things but what would happen if we talk about real feelings? Maybe there are lots of things going on at home; we don’t like to think we are scared. But really, why not tell the truth?

Activities:

Ask Jesus to teach you what he means by “true wealth.”