From the responsorial psalm: "I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the LORD.” And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 16:1-8)

"For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”

Spoken after telling the parable of the dishonest steward, Jesus identifies a contrast between the shrewd stewardship of worldly goods and the kind of stewardship Jesus calls us to exemplify as children of light, his followers. Jesus doesn't say that he approves of the dishonesty of the steward, but he recognizes his resourcefulness in a dire situation. What Jesus suggests to each of us as his sons and daughters who live in the light of faith is to be prudent as we care and nurture and preserve it. Our imperfect attempts meet God's perfect grace. "Whoever keeps the word of Christ," we hear in the Gospel acclamation, "the love of God is truly perfected in him." In a time of crisis, from what source do we draw strength to maintain and uphold our hope as exiles. Our true home is elsewhere. "Our citizenship," Saint Paul says, "is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

Father in heaven, you give every good gift. The choice to follow you is mine and is not imposed but is your gift of free will. Help me use the things of this world wisely even as I choose daily to nurture and maintain your gift of faith to bring forth your kingdom to the benefit of others. Give me the grace to be prudent—even shrewd—as I seek to live as an honest steward of all of your gifts. To be a child of light means to look to the source of light for guidance. With childlike faith, let me place my trust in you, my sole hope for preserving every good gift you give me. Jesus, I trust in you!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

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From the responsorial psalm: "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? The Lord is my light and my salvation."

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 14:25-33)

"In the same way, everyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”

Addressing the great crowds following him made up of individuals and family members traveling together, Jesus counts these among the possessions they need to renounce—that is, father, mother, wife, children, and brothers and sisters, and even oneself. Jesus says, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, . . . he cannot be my disciple." It is not to live in fear but to rest in the Spirit of God if we place him first and by this come to know God through our own cross in following Christ, thereby gaining anew life and redemption. The parables Jesus shares with the crowd relate to spiritual discernment and planning, and the commitment to bring to fulfillment God's work in us. And without his grace, all the planning and action in the world is worth nothing.

God, help me consider the words of Saint Paul as they relate to the Gospel: "For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work." Enliven my desire, Lord, to recognize my cross and do the work of following you as I carry it. With the help of your grace, let me be unafraid to renounce possessions and place you above all other relationships to things and people, even the ones closest to me. Let me see in sacrifices gain and not loss; more, not less. "I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD in the land of the living."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.