Homily for Saturday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 5th November, 2022

 Readings: Phil 4:10-19 , Ps.111 , Luke 16: 9-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO USE MONEY AND WEALTH TO WIN FRIENDS FOR YOURSELF IN HEAVEN 

Walking through the streets I observed how people are struggling with the things of this life, I can feel their passion, their determination and willingness even in the midst of corruption and challenges of life. How I wish we can put such energy in working towards the things that edifice our soul. 

This is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today when he said; use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. For the man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?

Here, we have the continuation of yesterday’s parable of the dishonest steward, in which today Jesus explained its meaning and how it can be related to the lives of the people, telling us that we should be  careful not to fall into the temptations of money and other worldly pleasures which are trying to lead us away from God and the salvation he has given us. Rather, we should learn to use worldly wealth to gain friends for ourselves, so that when it is gone, we will be welcomed into eternal dwellings but how are we going to do this. 

This is possible if we know that we can use money for so many things in relation to the kingdom of heaven. First, we need money to fund the work of building God’s kingdom. For we are told to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” this task requires money, because evangelization cost a lot of money.

Secondly, we are told to be responsible and charitable, this also requires money. So we must learn to use our money and wealth responsibly. Thirdly we are told to subdue the earth have dominion over the earth. To do this we must be part of major discussion and decisions made in our societies. This of course requires money and influence. So our wealth and influence in the society can be channeled into promotion of God’s Kingdom by influencing things positively in the society using our influence, money and wealth. 

Dear friends, today we are called to live a life of integrity and to learn how to use money and our wealth to make friends for ourselves in heaven. Each and every one of us are called to be good manager and custodians of whatever blessings and resources God has given us, for we are all reminded that we have been called to follow the Lord and to devote ourselves to Him wholeheartedly. And St. Paul in our first reading tell us that there is nothing we cannot master with the help of the One who gives us strength.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we listened to your words today, may we not be carried away by the things of this passing world. Rather give us the grace to a life of integrity and to develop our societies positively, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace filled weekend.