We conclude our week of readings with a strong challenge from Jesus Christ. Our reflection centers on Fidelity, Favor, and Focus. First, Fid...
We conclude our week of readings with a strong challenge from Jesus Christ. Our reflection centers on Fidelity, Favor, and Focus.
First, Fidelity. The core teaching of the Gospel is about being faithful in small matters. Jesus says, "The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones." We often dream of grand gestures of faith, but the truth is, holiness is built on fidelity in the ordinary: how we handle our small amounts of money, how we manage our time, how we treat the people closest to us. St. Paul's final greetings in the First Reading are a testament to this, naming many co-workers whose lives were simply marked by hard work and dedication in their service to the Lord.
Second, Favor. Jesus tells us to use our worldly wealth, which he calls the "tainted mammon," to “make friends” so that when it fails, “they may welcome you into eternal dwellings.” This is a call to use our resources—our favor and fortune, however small—for works of mercy that will secure our eternal home. Our small acts of charity, our generous spirit, our daily work, become our eternal favor when done for Christ.
Third, Focus. The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard this and sneered. Jesus gave them the ultimate warning: "You cannot serve God and mammon." This is a profound choice of Focus. What is the central driving force of your life? Is it the accumulation of wealth and status, or is it God’s Kingdom? Jesus tells us that what is highly esteemed by humans—wealth, power, reputation—can be an abomination in God's sight if it pulls our focus away from Him.
Let us leave Mass today with a renewed Focus on God, a commitment to daily Fidelity in small things, and the wisdom to use all our earthly Favor to prepare for the eternal life that awaits us. Amen.
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