Blessed Virgin Mary

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Philippians 4:10-19

I rejoice in the Lord because of your concern for me.

You were indeed concerned for me before, but you had no opportunity to show it. I do not say this because of being in want; I have learned to manage with what I have. I know what it is to be in want and what it is to have plenty. I am trained for both: to be hungry or satisfied, to have much or little. I can do all things in him who strengthens me.

 However you did right in sharing my trials. You Philip­pians, remember that in the beginning, when we first preached the Gospel, after I left Macedonia you alone opened for me a debit and credit account, and when I was in Thessalonica, twice you sent me what I needed.

It is not your gift that I value but rather the interest increasing in your own account. Now I have enough and more than enough with everything Epa­phroditus brought me on your behalf and which I received as “fragrant offerings pleasing to God.” God himself will provide you with everything you need, according to his riches, and show you his generosity in Christ Jesus.

 

Ps 112 1b-2, 5-6, 8a & 9

Blessed the man who fears the Lord.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 16:9-15

And so I tell you: use filthy money to make friends for yourselves, so that when it fails, these people may welcome you into the eternal homes.  Whoever can be trusted in little things can also be trusted in great ones; whoever is dishonest in slight matters will also be dishonest in greater ones.

 So if you have not been trust­worthy in handling filthy money, who could ­entrust you with true wealth? And if you have not been trustworthy with things that are not really yours, who will give you the wealth which is your own?

 No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not like the one and is fond of the other, or he regards one highly and the other with contempt. You cannot give yourself both to God and to Money.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and sneered at Jesus. He said to them, “You do your best to be considered righteous by people. But God knows the heart, and what rises high among humans is loathed by God.

 

Gospel Reflection：

Whoever is faithful in very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in very little is dishonest also in much.we immediately understand this common sense statement, but often are not willing to give small things their due importance in the formation of our heart.

Small acts of selfishness, of little transparency, of not taking our prayer life seriously, do have an impact bigger than we want to admit, as do small acts of love, care and honesty.

You cannot serve God and wealth. Crystal clear words, that even nowadays generate ridicule. This gospel is a reminder that the world is becoming totally obsessed with accumulating ever greater amounts of wealth, totally disregarding the plight of those who are unable or incapable of entering this race.