Be Established In Things Of The Spirit

 

Goodness begets favour.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 31st Week in Ordinary Time, Year I, and the Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, November 10th, 2023
Texts: Romans 15:14-21; Psalm 98:1-4; Luke 16:1-8 

Jesus Christ challenges us, today, to be established in things of the spirit. He does this by telling us the story of a dishonest steward and how he got a living for himself. The steward used his position to gain lasting favour for himself by granting partial debt relief to his master’s debtors. He believed that those debtors would return his goodness to them with favour by receiving him into their houses. Jesus Christ does not challenge us be dishonest like him but be wise like him in gaining eternal life. We are to use what we have to attain eternal life. 

St. Paul, in today’s first reading, tells us about the Romans. They are the counterparts of the dishonest steward in things of God. St. Paul tells us that the Romans were full of goodness and knowledge, and able to instruct one another. We cannot be children of light without knowledge. Knowledge is light as ignorance is darkness. We are to be full of knowledge to be children of light. 

Everyone of us has capacity for goodness

The dishonest steward had knowledge that goodness begets favour. However, knowledge is useless without application. He applied his knowledge to get what he desired. He practised goodness. We are to be full of goodness as the Romans were full of goodness. Everyone of us has capacity for goodness. The practice of goodness is the way to eternal life. 

We also need means of sustaining our knowledge and goodness. It is by listening to the ministers of God’s word. Hence, St. Paul says, “But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ  Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service of the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” 

The Memorial of  Saint Leo the Great

St. Leo the Great, whose memorial is today, was well founded in knowledge and goodness. “He was a true shepherd and father of souls. He constantly strove to keep the faith whole and strenuously defended the unity of the Church” (Universalis). He was a Pope and prevented invasion on Rome and secured peace for the people. We learn from him to keep our faith whole and maintain the unity of the Church. He teaches us to work for the security of our community.  

Prayer 

O God, who never allow the gates of hell to prevail against your Church, firmly founded on the apostolic rock, grant her, we pray, that through the intercession of Pope Saint Leo, she may stand firm in your truth and know the protection of lasting peace. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke