＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Amos 8: 4-7

 Hear this, you who trample on the needy to do away with the weak of the land.  

 You who say, “When will the new moon or the sabbath feast be over that we may open the store and sell our grain? Let us lower the measure and raise the price; let us cheat and tamper with the scales,  and even sell the refuse with the whole grain. We will buy up the poor for money and the needy for a pair of sandals.”

Yahweh, the pride of Jacob, has sworn by himself, “I shall never forget their deeds.”

 

 ＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊  

 1 Timothy 2: 1-8

 First of all I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for everyone,   for rulers of states and all in authority, that we may enjoy a quiet and peaceful life in godliness and respect.   This is good and pleases God.  

For he wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth.  As there is one God, there is one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,  who gave his life for the redemption of all.

This is the testimony, given in its proper time,  and of this, God has made me apostle and herald. I am not lying, I am telling the truth: He made me teacher of the nations regarding faith and truth.  I want the men in every place to lift pure hands in prayer to heaven without anger and dissension.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

Luke 16: 1-13

At another time Jesus told his disciples, “There was a rich man whose steward was reported to him because of fraudulent service. He summoned the steward and asked him: ‘What is this I hear about you? I want you to render an account of your service for it is about to be terminated.’

The steward thought to himself: ‘What am I to do now? My master will surely dismiss me. I am not strong enough to do hard work, and I am ashamed to beg.   I know what I will do: I must make sure that when I am dismissed, there will be people who will welcome me into their house.’

So he called his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first debtor,‘How much do you owe my master?’  The reply was: ‘A hun­dred jars of oil.’ The steward said: ‘Here is your bill. Sit down quickly and write there fifty.’   To the second debtor

he put the same question: ‘How much do you owe?’ The answer was: ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ Then the steward said: ‘Take your bill and write eighty,

 The master commended the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the people of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light. 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 been dishonest in handling filthy money, who would ­entrust you with true wealth?  And if you have been dis honest 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.”

 

Reflection gospel：

READ: The prophet Amos exposes the ways of those who take advantage of the needy and the weak. Writing to Timothy, Paul says that good deeds are pleasing to God and need to be done for others. Examples of which are petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving. In the parable, Jesus praises the steward for having dealt with his termination astutely.

REFLECT: in response to the decision of the rich man to terminate him, the steward acted astutely: he cancelled out the extra markup he had added (for himself) to the rich man’s profit in order to win the favor of each debtor.

What is remarkable about his action is that he gave away, after coming to his senses (with emphasis), the money intended for him. He realized the impending consequences of his dismissal: he will have to work hard in spite of physical inability; and he will have to beg.

He could not imagine himself doing these. The realization and actions of the astute steward are worth relating to our day-to-day living. That which corrupts the human heart, we may give up; and, that which could be very helpful to others, we may also give away. It wise when we act based on authentic values and not on mere satisfaction.

PRAY: Lord, grant us the wisdom to determine what is truly good and valuable. And give us the courage to give up those things that do not promote your reign of love, justice and mercy.

ACT: Practice giving up little things so that we may be prepared to give up big things.