POSSESSIONS AND THE GOSPEL
Introduction
Concluding his warm letter to them, Paul expresses his great gratitude to the Philippians, the only community from which he had accepted material help. May God bless them.
After the Lord’s parable on the unjust steward, Luke adds several statements from various sources, some allegorical reflections of the early Christian communities, some his own comments, all rather remotely related to the parable. Behind these lies his attitude toward poverty and the use of the goods of this earth.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you tell us today through your Son
that we cannot be at the same time
your friends and the friends of money.
Make us see more deeply
that we are money’s friends
when we are unjust to others
or tolerate injustice by our silence.
But make us also more deeply aware
that we are your friends when we value simple living,
when we are not greedy for money or social status,
but when we invest in people
and use your gifts for serving them
and building up your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading PHILIPPIANS 4:10-19
Brothers and sisters: I rejoice greatly in the Lord that now at last you revived your concern for me. You were, of course, concerned about me but lacked an opportunity. Not that I say this because of need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I find myself, to be self-sufficient. I know indeed how to live in humble circumstances; I know also how to live with abundance. In every circumstance and in all things I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry, of living in abundance and of being in need. I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. Still, it was kind of you to share in my distress. You Philippians indeed know that at the beginning of the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, not a single church shared with me in an account of giving and receiving, except you alone. For even when I was at Thessalonica you sent me something for my needs, not only once but more than once. It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather, I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account. I have received full payment and I abound. I am very well supplied because of what I received from you through Epaphroditus, “a fragrant aroma,” an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. My God will fully supply whatever you need, in accord with his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.
Responsorial PSALM 112:1B-2, 5-6, 8A AND 9
R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord. or: Alleluia.
Blessed the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commands.
His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;
the upright generation shall be blessed. R.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance. R.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear.
Lavishly he gives to the poor;
his generosity shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory. R.
Alleluia 2 CORINTHIANS 8:9
Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
So that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel LUKE 16:9-15
Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 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 God and mammon.” The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And 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.”
Commentary
Stripping Oneself
‘Nudus nudum Christum sequi’ is an ancient Christian ascetic motto in currency especially among the early Franciscans. It refers to being “naked to follow the naked Christ.” St. Francis of Assisi literalized it by stripping himself naked so as to be dispossessed of everything, embracing Christ as his only garment. St. Angela of Foligno, a Franciscan Tertiary, is yet another who did the same, by stripping herself before a crucifix as a symbol of her total surrender to Christ. Such acts may seem excessive and embarrassing: however, they showed their absolute and irreversible choice of God. They simply refused to serve two masters. Their fidelity was richly rewarded as well: Francis becomes the “second-Christ” and Angela, at the height of her mystical experience, sees herself lying on the Holy Trinity; in other words, being clothed in the Trinity. Their lives inspire us to strip ourselves naked in spirit so as to be clothed in Christ alone.
Intercessions
– That governments may not promote or allow, for paying national debts or private gain, the destruction or plunder of natural resources, like forests that are the pride and riches of the nation, we pray:
– That our families may promote sober living, we pray:
– That parents may teach their children that there are higher values than money and possessions, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, you break for us here
the bread that satisfies the poor
and pour for us the wine of joy
of Jesus your Son.
With him, and by the wisdom and strength
of his Holy Spirit,
may we place ourselves and all our gifts and creativity
in the service of people,
that your kingdom may grow
in us and among all people
and by your grace stand for ever. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Almighty, all-rich God,
what you create you give away
and entrust it to us.
We try to keep riches and power
firmly in our own hands.
We thank you that you are different,
generous and unobtrusive,
hidden behind your gifts.
Teach us that we do not become smaller
when we make one another great
nor poorer if others are well-off.
Let us be of the mentality of him
who gave up power and might for our sakes,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
Jesus wants us to be thankful for God’s gifts by acting responsibly with what we have, and that includes sharing. After all, we have been given much. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!