Being Wise in Things of Heaven

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Friday, 31st Week in Ordinary Time Year II, November 6th, 2020

Texts: Phil. 3:17-4:1;  Ps. 122:1-5; Luke 16:1-8

Heaven is the goal of every Christian. We all know that we will one day go home to meet the Lord. St. Paul reminds us of this fact when he says, "But our Commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body". He encourages us not to lose our vision of heaven. He warns us against being earthly minded. We are earthly minded when we seek enjoyment in this world, when our concern is about food and drinks, and  material things. Living such a life makes one enemy of cross and it is a path to destruction and shame .

 St. Paul did not just  bear witness to the life of heaven in his preaching but also lived it. He recognized that witnessing is beyond preaching to include living what one preached. Hence, he says, "Brethren, join in imitating me". This calls us not to be Christian in name or word alone but also in our lives. We are called to live out our faith. When our lives match the faith we profess or what we preach, it becomes more convincing and worthy of emulation. 

Jesus Christ, in today's gospel reading, challenges us as to how we prepare for the life of heaven. Jesus Christ challenges us that the people who are earthly minded are wiser than us, for  they know how to secure the enjoyment of this life. In order to secure for himself good life, the dishonest steward makes sacrifice, he let go some certain amount of the debt to win the favour of his debtors. It is worth noting that what he removed was part of his own share of the money. If we could act like this dishonest steward in our drive to please God and gain heaven, heaven will be secured for us. We know what we have to do to gain heaven: we are to let go earthly enjoyment, and seek to win God's favour through charity, that is, loving God above all things and our neighbours for his own sake.

St. Paul, in the first reading, encourages us to stand firm in the Lord. We have to persevere in good works to the end. We need perseverance to secure heaven. We need perseverance in good works, we need perseverance in self-discipline.

Lord our God, help us with your grace that we might not lose our vision of heaven and that we might live life worthy of emulation. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Olowomuke