Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: November 8, 2025

Date: Saturday of the 31^st Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Text:  Luke 16:9-15

Jesus said to his disciples:

“I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.”

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

Jesus’ words in today’s gospel need to be digested slowly and deliberately. The “dishonest wealth” He speaks of is our earthly possessions. Jesus advises that we use our earthly possessions wisely to gain eternal life. But how do we do that? You can’t buy a ticket to heaven. Jesus is advising us to do good with what we have for those in need: the poor, the vulnerable whom the LORD loves. And they will advocate for us with the LORD.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What am I doing with my earthly wealth? Am I using it to serve others and to glorify God?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, be with us so that we never forget that it is because of You that we are and that this life on earth is but a sliver of our lives. Help us to use this time well, lovingly, generously, serving others for love of You. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.