Breaking the Word

31^st Week in Ord. Time, Saturday – 05^th November 2022 — Gospel: Lk 16,9-15

God Knows the Hearts

Today’s Gospel goes deeper into steward’s heart, which is a continuation of yesterday’s theme. Jesus speaks about the person’s focus. It cannot be divided. It is either set on God or set on money. It cannot be set on both. Jesus places this dichotomy before the Pharisees as an examination of conscience, as a glimpse into the deeper motives of the heart. And so, Jesus addressed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees by saying, “God knows their heart.” Jesus knew that the Pharisees sought wealth and possessions. Outwardly they sought public approval. They worked hard to impress people so that they would appear godly and wise. Despite their strict religious fervor, they cultivated godless values just like the unbelieving worldly crowd. They even claimed that their wealth was God’s reward for their righteous living. Their actions were inconsistent with who they really were in their hearts. Because of which, Jesus harshly criticized their outward displays of piety. God knows the motives behind every action because He knows every human heart (1 Kgs 8,39; Acts 1,24; 15,8). Since God knows our hearts, we ought to always live to please him alone and not worry about impressing others.

31^st Week in Ord. Time, Friday – 4^th November 2022 — Gospel: Lk 16,1-8

Make Friends for the Kingdom

The parable of the shrewd manager concludes with the great truth that “the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation.”  In other words, people strive more intensely for the things of this world rather than for the kingdom of God. But what is expected of them is assessment of the long-term future of their actions. Jesus’ disciples, who are considered “the children of light”, could learn something about acting prudently from the “children of this age.” What they could learn from the “children of this age” is to make friends for themselves by means of dishonest wealth so that those new friends might ‘welcome them into the eternal homes.’ Instead of using dishonest wealth to exploit others, as the rich do, the disciples are expected to use wealth to make friends for themselves. It is a friendship that builds up reciprocal and egalitarian relationships, that not only releases other people’s debts, but also enriches and establishes new kinds of relationships.