Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Possessions and the Gospel
Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
Paul concludes his letter to the Romans with various greetings and a hymn of praise to God.
After the Lord’s parable on the unjust steward, Luke adds several statements from various sources, some allegorical reflections of the early Christian communities, some his own comments, all rather remotely related to the parable. Behind these lies his attitude toward poverty and the use of the goods of this earth.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you tell us today through your Son
that we cannot be at the same time
your friends and the friends of money.
Make us see more deeply
that we are money’s friends
when we are unjust to others
or tolerate injustice by our silence.
But make us also more deeply aware
that we are your friends when we value simple living,
when we are not greedy for money or social status,
but when we invest in people
and use your gifts for serving them
and building up your kingdom.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
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.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Jesus Christ became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
And so I tell you: use filthy money to make friends for yourselves, so that, when it fails, these people may welcome you into the eternal homes.
Whoever can be trusted with small things can also be trusted with big ones; whoever is dishonest about minor matters will also be dishonest about greater ones.
So, if you have been dishonest in handling dirty money, who would trust you with real wealth?
And if you have been dishonest with things that are not really yours, who will give you that wealth which is truly yours?
No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not favor one and prefers the other, or he respects one highly and looks down on the other. You cannot devote yourself to both God and Money.”
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and sneered at Jesus.
He said to them:
“You do your best to be considered righteous by people. But God knows the heart, and what is highly esteemed by human beings is loathed by God.
Prayers of the Faithful
– That governments may not promote or allow, for paying national debts or private gain, the destruction or plunder of natural resources, like forests that are the pride and riches of the nation, we pray:
– That our families may promote sober living, we pray:
– That parents may teach their children that there are higher values than money and possessions, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, you break for us here
the bread that satisfies the poor
and pour for us the wine of joy
of Jesus your Son.
With him, and by the wisdom and strength
of his Holy Spirit,
may we place ourselves and all our gifts and creativity
in the service of people,
that your kingdom may grow
in us and among all people
and by your grace stand for ever.
Prayer after Communion
Almighty, all-rich God,
what you create you give away
and entrust it to us.
We try to keep riches and power
firmly in our own hands.
We thank you that you are different,
generous and unobtrusive,
hidden behind your gifts.
Teach us that we do not become smaller
when we make one another great
nor poorer if others are well-off.
Let us be of the mentality of him
who gave up power and might for our sakes,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
Blessing
Jesus wants us to be thankful for God’s gifts by acting responsibly with what we have, and that includes sharing. After all, we have been given much. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
8 November 2025
Luke 16: 9-15
Brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on how we use the material things of this world, especially money. Jesus is not condemning possessions in themselves; He is asking us to see them in their proper place.
First, money is a means, not a goal. It comes and goes, and its real value lies in how it is shared. The danger comes when we make money the centre of our lives—when we invent needs, chase after what we don’t really need, and forget the things that truly matter. Saint Ambrose once said: “The bosoms of the poor, the houses of widows, the mouths of children are the barns which last forever.” Our wealth is not in what we keep, but in what we give away.
Second, Jesus calls us to loyalty. “Whoever is faithful in little is faithful also in much.” Loyalty is not just a feeling; it is a daily choice. God entrusts us with little tasks and small responsibilities, and how we handle them shows if we are ready for greater things. Even in earthly matters, a person is only promoted after proving trustworthy in small duties. So too in eternal life: we will inherit what is truly ours only if we are faithful stewards of what has been lent to us here.
Third, we must decide who our Master is. Jesus is clear: “You cannot serve both God and money.” God does not want part-time disciples. To serve Him is to give Him our whole heart. Divided service is no service at all.
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees mocked Jesus because they linked wealth with virtue. They arrogantly elevated themselves in front of others, but before God, their arrogance was detestable. Jesus teaches us that the kingdom belongs not to the self-righteous, but to those who prioritise God above everything.
So let us ask: Do we use money as a tool for love, or has it become our master? May we learn to be faithful in small things, generous in sharing, and wholehearted in serving God—our only true treasure.
Let fidelity sensitise our skin
The real human values are those that stay by you, give you happiness and enrich you.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites his disciples to practice the simple values in life. First, Fidelity or faithfulness, second, single-mindedness, focusing on God or serving only God, third, purification of heart in responsibilities.
Single-mindedness: The primary focus of Christians should be on God, not on riches. Wealth, which can serve as a means and opportunity for securing one’s place in the kingdom if used shrewdly for the sake of others, can also become a master. So, the way we use what we have reveals who we serve. The choice of having no master is not an option for us because emptiness naturally will be filled with something. Materialism enslaves us as St. Paul says in 1 Tim. 6.10, money is the root of all kinds of Evil, but God requires exclusive fidelity.
God looks at the heart and internal values, not outer appearance. We adorn our outward appearance with possessions, which may be admired or praised by many, but we are always esteemed by God when our inner life is pure and unblemished. Today, Jesus wants us to have a clean heart and to lead a pure life, which is what God desires.
Albert Einstein says, try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of values. Our fidelity is tested by the way we deal with people, regardless of designation and resources, while our shrewdness is tested by the way we use our material goods to help those in need. St. Paul, in the first reading, stands out for his fidelity by accounting faithfully for everyone’s contribution in spreading the Good News.
Let us make a distinction between the values that we possess and make efforts to cultivate those values that take us closer to God. Fred Craddock invites us to introspect our fidelity as the week will present no more than a chance to give a cup of water, write a note, visit a sick in the parish, vote for a politician, teach a Sunday school class, share a meal, tell a child a story, go to choir practice, wish a neighbour and feed a poor in the street. “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much”