＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊   

Romans 15:14-21

 As for me, brothers and sisters,

I am convinced that you have goodwill, knowledge and the capacity to advise each other; never­the­less I have written boldly in some parts of this letter to remind you of what you already know.

I do this according to the grace God has given to me when I was sent to the pagan nations. I dedicated myself to the service of the Good News of God as a minister of Christ Jesus, in order to present the non-Jews to God as an agreeable offering consecrated by the Holy Spirit. This service of God is for me a cause of pride in Christ Jesus.

 Of course, I would not dare to speak of other things but what Christ himself has done through me, my words and my works, with miracles and signs, by the power of the Holy Spirit—so that non-Jews may obey the faith. In this way I have extended the Good News to all parts, from Jerusalem to Illiricum.

 I have been very careful, however, and I am proud of this, not to preach in places where Christ is already known, and not to build upon foundations laid by others. Let it be as Scripture says: Those not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.

 

Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊      

Luke 16:1-8

 At another time Jesus told his disciples, “There was a rich man whose steward was reported to him for 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 some people to welcome me into their house.’

 So he called his master’s debtors one by one. He asked the first who came: ‘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 he put the same question: ‘How much do you owe?’ The answer was: ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ Then he said: ‘Take your bill and write eight hundred.’

 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.

 

Gospel Reflection：

The astute manager can serve as a model for us on how we should manage our affairs to ensure our own salvation. First, he is adept in anticipating his future needs and he provides accordingly. Likewise, we need to provide for future needs that go beyond this physical reality.

Secondly we need to be tenacious. We cannot give in to despair but should struggle to make a life worthy of heaven. No matter how rough the going gets, if we remain steadfast, someday our feet will walk in ways that are level and smooth.

Perhaps the only thing we must do in contrast with the dishonest steward is to live an exemplary life because it will spare us from the fate of the shrewd manager in today's Gospel reading.