“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”,(Friday, 31st Week in Ordinary Time of Year C).

(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED).

COLLECT: “ALMIGHTY AND MERCIFUL GOD, BY WHOSE GIFT YOUR FAITHFUL OFFER YOU RIGHT AND PRAISEWORTHY SERVICE, GRANT, WE PRAY, THAT WE MAY HASTEN WITHOUT STUMBLING TO RECEIVE THE THINGS YOU HAVE PROMISED. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.

Rom 15:14-21; Ps 97:1-4 and Lk 16:1-8.

There is a song by Jim Reeves that says, “This world is not my own. I am just passing through….”. Jesus also teaches that we are in the world but we do not belong to the world, and that if the world hates him, it will hate us as well. If there,efore we are in this world but not for it, it follows that our world is heaven and we belong there. To be part and parcel of the world we belong to, heaven, we must live its values and virtues, but not the values of the world we do not belong to, and which does not know us.

We must work not to further our own personal interests, but work as truly dedicated followers of the Lord to further his interests. In that sense, our minds should not be occupied with earthly things, but things in heaven, where we came from and are journeying back there to receive them. The parable in the Gospel exposes a situation where one prudently works in this world to further one’s own interests and personal gains.

It is also a worldly value or virtue, to do all one can, even if it is against heavenly and Christian values and virtues, to live comfortably in this world which does not know us, and which we do not belong to. Some of the values and virtues of this world - of course, contradictory in terms - are cheating, dishonesty, pilfering, robbing and stealing.

The scripture readings today serve as a wake-up call to all of us to make a decision that will allow us to live contentedly with whatever we have, because, as believers, we have chosen eternal values that are lasting over temporary and earthly treasures that do not last. Let us be guided by Mt 6:21 that, “… wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be”. Our treasure is heaven and heavenly things, but not this earth and earthly things, and therefore, our hearts should be in heaven, not on earth. May we learn from this dishonest steward in the parable of Jesus, who was able to quickly adjust to new situations and move ahead toward his goal. Our goal and final destination is heaven.

Note! Jesus does not praise the apparent dishonesty of this steward in the parable, but the diligence with which the steward looks out for his own interests. May we also be guided by the spirit of diligence like this steward as we journey towards our heavenly homeland. We pray that when worldly, so-called values and virtues distract us along our way to heaven, we may adjust to new ways and situations, and eventually be received by the Lord in heaven. May we dedicate our whole life to the interests of God like Saint Paul, who, as a man after Jesus’ own heart, dedicated his whole life to the interests of God. Stay blessed, happy weekend.

WE MEDITATE TODAY, FRIDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.

PRAYER: “MAY THE WORKING OF YOUR POWER, O LORD, INCREASE IN US, WE PRAY, SO THAT, RENEWED BY THESE HEAVENLY SACRAMENTS, WE MAY BE PREPARED BY YOUR GIFT FOR RECEIVING WHAT THEY PROMISED. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.