(Optional Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
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“The Worship of Mammon”
by Evelyn de Morgan, c. 1900 |
Readings for Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time [2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible [3]
Readings and Commentary: [4]
Reading 1: Romans 16:3-9, 16, 22-27
Brothers and sisters:
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus,
who risked their necks for my life,
to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles;
greet also the Church at their house.
Greet my beloved Epaenetus,
who was the firstfruits in Asia for Christ.
Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
Greet Andronicus and Junia,
my relatives and my fellow prisoners;
they are prominent among the Apostles
and they were in Christ before me.
Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.
Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ,
and my beloved Stachys.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
All the churches of Christ greet you.
I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.
Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole Church, greets you.
Erastus, the city treasurer,
and our brother Quartus greet you.
Now to him who can strengthen you,
according to my Gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ,
according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages
but now manifested through the prophetic writings and,
according to the command of the eternal God,
made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith,
to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ
be glory forever and ever. Amen.
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Commentary on Rom 16:3-9, 16, 22-27
This selection from the last chapter of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans is part of what is known as “Letter of Recommendations to Phoebe.” It was probably sent to the church in Ephesus as opposed to Rome. In it the writer extols the virtue of members of the community by name, commending them for their work on behalf of the community. In verse 22: “Tertius, the writer of this letter” is St. Paul’s scribe.
The selection concludes with a doxology or short hymn to the Lord that concludes the letter (both the selection and the whole letter to the Romans) in praise of Christ Jesus.
CCC: Rom 16:25-27 2641; Rom 16:26 143, 1204, 2087
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11
R. (1b) I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 145:2-3, 4-5, 10-11
Psalm 145 is a hymn of praise. This singer in these strophes pours out his heart to God whose greatness is unknowable, and who, through his creation, has demonstrated majesty beyond any human undertaking.
CCC: Ps 145:3 300
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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.”
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Commentary on Lk 16:9-15
This passage contains the conclusions or morals of the parable of the dishonest steward. “Dishonest wealth: literally, "mammon of iniquity." Mammon is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic word that is usually explained as meaning "that in which one trusts." The characterization of this wealth as dishonest expresses a tendency of wealth to lead one to dishonesty. Eternal dwellings: or, "eternal tents," i.e., heaven as opposed to the teachings.” [5]
The lessons taught to the disciples in the second and third moralizations of that story are, first the need to be faithful in positions of responsibility, and then the inability of a person to serve two masters. “'Abomination': the original Greek word means worship of idols, and, by derivation, the horror this provoked in a true worshiper of God. So the expression conveys God's disgust with the attitude of the Pharisees who, by wanting to be exalted, are putting themselves, like idols, in the place of God.” [6]
CCC: Lk 16:13 2424
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Reflection:
The story in the parable of the dishonest steward, for which today’s Gospel was the conclusion, demonstrates that caution must be exercised when dealing with those in the secular world, especially in matters of material wealth. (The implication is that we should not have to worry about shrewd dealings and duplicity when dealing within the community of faith.)
A second lesson conveyed by the parable is that trust is a matter of character (and should be the hallmark of Christian character). If a person is trustworthy, they may be trusted in large or small matters, temptation will not dissuade them from their honest and faithful trust. If, on the other hand, a person is not trustworthy even small trusts will be violated.
A final lesson summarizes our understanding of this passage today. One may not serve two masters, God and wealth. If our prize is eternal life, then our eyes must be fixed firmly on God. Yes, we use the gifts he has given us to make our way in the world. We also make sure that our brothers and sisters are helped along the way. But our efforts are for God’s glory not for the sake of accumulating wealth. Wealth is its own prize and the rewards end with this life. We are warned about this numerous times in the Gospels.
That final lesson, we cannot serve two masters, is often difficult for those of us who live in the secular world. We need to make a living to support ourselves and our families, and frequently the demands of the workplace can challenge and stain the Christian ideal, the goal that all we do must be done for God’s greater glory.
There is an even more treacherous temptation as a result of the pressure to provide well for the family. Not only can we become so focused on the material success, but we are also tempted to cut corners so we can complete our assigned tasks more quickly, or find alternate, less honest ways of bringing financial security.
Sometimes the hardest thing we do as disciples is take the time to do our jobs well, even at the expense of time we know we should be spending on pursuits that would build us up spiritually or be better for our family relationships.
We have a good reminder of a very practical aspect of Christian values today. Let us pray that our efforts reveal God’s glory and our own wealth help those in need. Let us remember that in all things we are children of the light and greed has no place with us.
Pax
[1] General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar Miscellaneous Notes no. 5: “Outside Advent, Christmas Time, Lent, and Easter Time, on Saturdays which have no commemoration having the rank of Obligatory Memorial or higher, a Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be celebrated. This is indicated in the calendar by ‘BVM.’ The readings and prayers may be selected from the
Collection of Masses of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”
[2] The picture is “The Worship of Mammon” by Evelyn de Morgan, c. 1900.
[3] S.S. Commemoratio[4] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[5] NAB footnote on Luke 16:9.
[6] “Gospel and Acts” The Navarre Bible, Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland Copyright © 2008, p. 457.
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