Homily For Saturday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 11th November, 2023. The Memorial of St. Martin of Tours

Readings: Romans: 16:3-9.16.22-27; Ps.145; Luke 16: 9-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHO CAN BE TRUSTED WITH THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD?

 

One of the difficult challenges people face as regards beginning and sustaining any meaningful in our society today is getting people who can be trusted or those who can trust us. Today, when we walk through the streets we observe how people are struggling with the things of this life because of a lack of trust, we can feel their passion, determination and willingness to achieve great things even in the midst of corruption and challenges of life. How I wish we could put such energy into working towards the things that edifice our soul. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: can I be trusted with the smallest things in this passing world? How am I using the things of this world?

 

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, 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. Little wonder we heard St. Paul in our first reading saying: Glory to him who can give us the strength to live according to the Good News he preached in which he proclaimed Jesus Christ as the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith.

Dear friends, today we are called to live a life of integrity. Every one of us is called to be good managers 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. Therefore, we must learn to be trusted and ensure that we manage whatever is entrusted to us, just like St. Martin of Tours whose memorial we celebrate today.

 

He was one of the early bishops of Tours in what is now southern France. He was truly dedicated in his service as the shepherd of his flock, dedicating his time and efforts to take care of the needs of his flock, in particular their spiritual needs. He was a champion of true faith amidst several heresies that were rampant at that time, protecting his flock from false teachings and helping to guide them down the right path, leading by example through his own virtuous life. We too can do the same.

 

 

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 live a life of integrity and trust in order to develop our societies positively, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace-filled weekend.