by Norbert Doulanni | Nov 11, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Josaphat, Bishop, Martyr
(c.1580 – 1623)
Psalter: Week IV
Red
He was born in Ukraine of Orthodox parents. Josaphat joined the first monastery of the order of St Basil to be united to the Catholic Church: he was the first person to do so. He was ordained priest and, eventually and reluctantly, appointed bishop of Polotsk in 1617. Josaphat was murdered by a mob in 1623 while on a pastoral visit to Vitebsk.
Entrance Antiphon
Because of the Lord’s covenant and the ancestral laws, the Saints of God persevered in loving brotherhood, for there was always one spirit in them, and one faith.
Collect
Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep, so that through his intercession we, too, may be strengthened by the same Spirit and not be afraid to lay down our life for others. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Wisdom 6:1-11
Listen, kings, and understand; rulers of remotest lands, take warning; hear this, you who have thousands under your rule, who boast of your hordes of subjects. For power is a gift to you from the Lord, sovereignty is from the Most High; he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions. If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly nor observed the law, nor behaved as God would have you behave, he will fall on you swiftly and terribly. Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty; the lowly will be compassionately pardoned, the mighty will be mightily punished. For the Lord of All does not cower before a personage, he does not stand in awe of greatness, since he himself has made small and great and provides for all alike; but strict scrutiny awaits those in power. Yes, despots, my words are for you, that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress; for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy, and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them. Look forward, therefore, to my words; yearn for them, and they will instruct you.
Responsorial Psalm :Psalm 81(82):3-4,6-7
R/ Arise, O God, to judge the earth.
Do justice for the weak and the orphan, defend the afflicted and the needy. Rescue the weak and the poor; set them free from the hand of the wicked.
I have said to you: “You are gods and all of you, sons of the Most High.” And yet, you shall die like men, you shall fall like any of the princes.’
Gospel Acclamation : 2Th2:14
Alleluia, alleluia! Through the Good News God called usto share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 17:11-19
On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Most merciful God, pour out your blessing upon these offerings and confirm us in the faith that Saint Josaphat professed by the shedding of his blood. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Mt. 10: 39
Whoever loses his life for my sake, will find it in eternity, say the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May this heavenly table, O Lord, bestow on us a spirit of fortitude and peace, so that, following Saint Josaphat’s example, we may willingly spend our lives working for the honour and unity of the Church. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Ten lepers have the privilege of receiving healing from the Master, Jesus, who responds to their desperate cry for help: “‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.” In a remarkable display of grace, He grants their plea for total healing. However, only one of them demonstrates a leap of faith, transitioning from grace to gratitude and ultimately to salvation. Because of this act of gratitude, he hears these wonderful words from the Master: “Your faith has saved you.” His response is immediate and from the heart. While the other nine may be concerned about fulfilling the legal requirements, the Samaritan, in a beautiful display of faith, focuses on expressing gratitude to God right where the grace of God found him. This act of gratitude exemplifies the kind of faith that not only saves but transforms us. In our own pursuits, many of us turn to God seeking healing or requesting various favours. The essential question arises: how many return to show an attitude of gratitude to God? Let us fervently pray for the grace to be always grateful for the many blessings we receive from God.
by Norbert Doulanni | Nov 10, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop
(c.316 – 397)
Psalter: Week IV
White
He was born in the Roman province of Pannonia. He spent some time as a hermit on an island off the Ligurian coast, founded a monastery at Ligugé in western France. The famous story about St Martin is that while a soldier in Amiens he gave half of his military cloak to a beggar and later had a dream in which the beggar revealed himself as Christ. He died in 397.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. 1 Sam 2: 35
I shall raise up for myself a faithful priest who will act in accord with my heart and my mind, says the Lord.
Collect
O God, who are glorified in the Bishop Saint Martin both by his life and death, make new, we pray, the wonders of your grace in our hearts, that neither death nor life may separate us from your love. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Wisdom 2:23-3:9
God made man imperishable, he made him in the image of his own nature; it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world, as those who are his partners will discover. But the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them. In the eyes of the unwise, they did appear to die, their going looked like a disaster, their leaving us, like annihilation; but they are in peace. If they experienced punishment as men see it, their hope was rich with immortality; slight was their affliction, great will their blessings be. God has put them to the test and proved them worthy to be with him; he has tested them like gold in a furnace, and accepted them as a holocaust.
When the time comes for his visitation they will shine out; as sparks run through the stubble, so will they. They shall judge nations, rule over peoples, and the Lord will be their king for ever. They who trust in him will understand the truth, those who are faithful will live with him in love; for grace and mercy await those he has chosen.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33(34):2-3,16-19
R/ I will bless the Lord at all times.
I will bless the Lord at all times, his praise always on my lips in the Lord my soul shall make its boast. The humble shall hear and be glad.
The Lord turns his face against the wicked to destroy their remembrance from the earth. The Lord turns his eyes to the just and his ears to their appeal.
They call and the Lord hears and rescues them in all their distress. The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save.
Gospel Acclamation: Wisdom 2:23-3:9
Alleluia, alleluia! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Alleluia!
Gospel: Luke 17:7-10
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Which of you, with a servant ploughing or minding sheep, would say to him when he returned from the fields, “Come and have your meal immediately”? Would he not be more likely to say, “Get my supper laid; make yourself tidy and wait on me while I eat and drink. You can eat and drink yourself afterwards”? Must he be grateful to the servant for doing what he was told? So with you: when you have done all you have been told to do, say, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty.”’
Prayer over the Offerings
Sanctify these offerings, we pray, Lord God, which we joyfully present in honour of Saint Martin, so that through them our life may always be directed whether in tribulation or in prosperity. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Mt 25: 40
Amen, I say to you: Whatever you did for one of the least of my brethren, you did it for me, says the Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Grant to us who have been restored by this Sacrament of unity, O Lord, perfect harmony with your will in all things, that, just as Saint Martin submitted himself entirely to you, so we, too, may glory in being truly yours. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The words from our Gospel, “We are merely servants: we have done no more than our duty,” serve as a poignant reminder that when we engage in acts of service, we should not necessarily expect any show of gratitude or reward. We should serve out of love for God and others. True service is not about getting something in return. It is about selflessly giving of ourselves to others. Jesus stands as the most outstanding example of service and humility. His earthly mission was characterised by service and sacrificial giving. Without expecting thanks or reward, Jesus demonstrated profound love in his service to humanity. Jesus is a great model for any discourse about humility. Philippians 2: 5-11 beautifully captures his humility. We must follow Jesus’ example of serving others out of pure love without harbouring expectations. Though the servant may not express the wish to be thanked, Jesus assures us today that humble service is inherently rewarding. Let us seek the Lord’s guidance to cultivate humility, enabling us put others before ourselves, and serve them out of love.
by Norbert Doulanni | Nov 9, 2025 | Evangelium
Pope Saint Leo the Great (- 461)
Psalter: Week IV
White
He was born in Etruria and became Pope in 440. 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. He left many doctrinal and spiritual writings behind and a number of them are included in the Office of Readings to this day. He died in 461.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Sir 45: 30
The Lord established for him a covenant of peace, and made him the prince, that he might have the dignity of the priesthood for ever.
Collect
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. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Wisdom 1:1-7
Love virtue, you who are judges on earth, let honesty prompt your thinking about the Lord, seek him in simplicity of heart; since he is to be found by those who do not put him to the test, he shows himself to those who do not distrust him. But selfish intentions divorce from God; and Omnipotence, put to the test, confounds the foolish. No, Wisdom will never make its way into a crafty soul nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin; the holy spirit of instruction shuns deceit, it stands aloof from reckless purposes, is taken aback when iniquity appears. Wisdom is a spirit, a friend to man, though she will not pardon the words of a blasphemer, since God sees into the innermost parts of him, truly observes his heart, and listens to his tongue. The spirit of the Lord, indeed, fills the whole world, and that which holds all things together knows every word that is said.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 138(139):1-10
R/ Lead me, O Lord, in the path of life eternal.
O Lord, you search me and you know me, you know my resting and my rising, you discern my purpose from afar. You mark when I walk or lie down, all my ways lie open to you.
Before ever a word is on my tongue you know it, O Lord, through and through. Behind and before you besiege me, your hand ever laid upon me. Too wonderful for me this knowledge, too high, beyond my reach.
O where can I go from your spirit, or where can I flee from your face? If I climb the heavens, you are there. If I lie in the grave, you are there.
If I take the wings of the dawn and dwell at the sea’s furthest end, even there your hand would lead me, your right hand would hold me fast.
Gospel Acclamation : Ph2:15-16
Alleluia, alleluia! You will shine in the world like bright stars because you are offering it the word of life. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 17:1-6
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Obstacles are sure to come, but alas for the one who provides them! It would be better for him to be thrown into the Sea with a millstone put round his neck than that he should lead astray a single one of these little ones. Watch yourselves! If your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’ The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’ The Lord replied, ‘Were your faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Through the offerings made here, we pray, O Lord, graciously shed light on your Church, so that your flock may everywhere prosper and that under your governance
the shepherds may become pleasing to your name. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 16: 16,18
Peter said to Jesus: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus replied: You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.
Prayer after Communion
Be pleased, O Lord, we pray, to govern the Church you have nourished by this holy meal, so that, firmly directed, she may enjoy ever greater freedom and persevere in integrity of religion. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Forgiving, especially when we have been hurt, is not always easy. In today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us a crucial lesson on forgiveness. When we experience pain, it is natural to feel anger, resentment, or betrayal. However, Jesus teaches us the necessity of forgiving others, even in the face of repeated wrongs. He is not telling us to condone the other person’s action; rather, He calls us to release our anger and resentment and move on. Forgiveness is a path to healing and liberation from the weight of past grievances. It grants us the freedom to let go of the burden of anger and resentment. In our prayers, let us ask God to increase our faith so that we can choose to forgive others, even in situations where it seems difficult or nearly impossible. May God empower us to embrace the transformative power of forgiveness.
by Norbert Doulanni | Nov 8, 2025 | Evangelium
Dedication of the Lateran Basilica –
Feast
Psalter: Proper
White
Entrance Antiphon : Rev 21: 2
I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Collect
O God, who from living and chosen stones prepare an eternal dwelling for your majesty, increase in your Church the spirit of grace you have bestowed, so that by new growth your faithful people may build up the heavenly Jerusalem. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Ezekiel 47:1-2,8-9,12
The angel brought me to the entrance of the Temple, where a stream came out from under the Temple threshold and flowed eastwards, since the Temple faced east. The water flowed from under the right side of the Temple, south of the altar. He took me out by the north gate and led me right round outside as far as the outer east gate where the water flowed out on the right-hand side. He said, ‘This water flows east down to the Arabah and to the sea; and flowing into the sea it makes its waters wholesome. Wherever the river flows, all living creatures teeming in it will live. Fish will be very plentiful, for wherever the water goes it brings health, and life teems wherever the river flows. Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 45(46):2-3,5-6,8-9
R/ The waters of a river give joy to God’s city, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is for us a refuge and strength, a helper close at hand, in time of distress, so we shall not fear though the earth should rock, though the mountains fall into the depths of the sea.
The waters of a river give joy to God’s city, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within, it cannot be shaken; God will help it at the dawning of the day.
The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Come, consider the works of the Lord, the redoubtable deeds he has done on the earth.
Second reading: 1 Corinthians 3:9-11,16-17
You are God’s building. By the grace God gave me, I succeeded as an architect and laid the foundations, on which someone else is doing the building. Everyone doing the building must work carefully. For the foundation, nobody can lay any other than the one which has already been laid, that is Jesus Christ. Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple.
Gospel Acclamation : 2Ch7:16
Alleluia, alleluia! I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, for my name to be there forever. Alleluia!
Gospel : John 2:13-22
Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, we pray, O Lord, the offering made here and grant that by it those who seek your favour may receive in this place the power of the Sacraments and the answer to their prayers. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : 1 Pet 2: 5
Be built up like living stones, into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood.
Prayer after Communion
O God, who chose to foreshadow for us the heavenly Jerusalem through the sign of your Church on earth, grant, we pray, that, by our partaking of this Sacrament, we may be made the temple of your grace and may enter the dwelling place of your glory. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus is angry, and his actions are both shocking and provocative. He underscores the sanctity of the Temple, emphasising the purpose for which it was built, a sacred place of prayer and worship. However, the presence of merchants and moneychangers has transformed it into a marketplace, exploiting those who come to the Temple to worship. Beyond its physical structure, the Temple also symbolises God’s presence among us. We must always treat God’s house with perpetual respect and reverence. The Lateran Basilica. being the oldest and most important Church in Rome, serves as a symbol of the unity of the Catholic Church. Commemorating its dedication today serves as a reminder to us of the dual significance of the Temple or Church — as a physical structure and as a representation of our bodies as the Temple of the Holy Spirit. This calls us to treat God’s house with respect while appreciating the gift of the Church and recognising our bodies as sacred vessels.
by Norbert Doulanni | Nov 7, 2025 | Evangelium
Saturday Memorial of the Blessed
Virgin Mary
Blessed George Napier (1610)
Psalter: Week III
Green
He was born in Oxford and ordained priest in 1596. He worked secretly as a priest in 1603 in Oxfordshire. He was arrested in 1610: the possession of the holy oils and a breviary was considered sufficient evidence of priesthood and he was condemned to death. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at Oxford on 8 November 1610 and beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 37: 22-23
Forsake me not, O Lord, my God; be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help, O Lord, my strong salvation!
Collect
Almighty and merciful God, by whose gift your faithful offer you right and praiseworthy service, grant, we pray, that we may hasten without stumbling to receive the things you have promised. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Romans 16:3-9,16,22-27
My greetings to Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked death to save my life: I am not the only one to owe them a debt of gratitude, all the churches among the pagans do as well. My greetings also to the church that meets at their house. Greetings to my friend Epaenetus, the first of Asia’s gifts to Christ; greetings to Mary who worked so hard for you; to those outstanding apostles Andronicus and Junias, my compatriots and fellow prisoners who became Christians before me; to Ampliatus, my friend in the Lord; to Urban, my fellow worker in Christ; to my friend Stachys. Greet each other with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings. I, Tertius, who wrote out this letter, greet you in the Lord. Greetings from Gaius, who is entertaining me and from the whole church that meets in his house. Erastus, the city treasurer, sends his greetings; so does our brother Quartus. Glory to him who is able to give you the strength to live according to the Good News I preach, and in which I proclaim Jesus Christ, the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith. This is only what scripture has predicted, and it is all part of the way the eternal God wants things to be. He alone is wisdom; give glory therefore to him through Jesus Christ for ever and ever. Amen.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 144(145):2-5,10-11
R/ I will bless your name for ever, O Lord.
I will bless you day after day and praise your name forever. The Lord is great, highly to be praised, his greatness cannot be measured.
Age to age shall proclaim your works, shall declare your mighty deeds, shall speak of your splendour and glory, tell the tale of your wonderful works.
All your creatures shall thank you, O Lord, and your friends shall repeat their blessing. They shall speak of the glory of your reign and declare your might, O God.
Gospel Acclamation : Ac16:14
Alleluia, alleluia! Open our heart, O Lord, to accept the words of your Son. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 16:9-15
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own? ‘No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.’ The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and laughed at him. He said to them, ‘You are the very ones who pass yourselves off as virtuous in people’s sight, but God knows your hearts. For what is thought highly of by men is loathsome in the sight of God.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May these sacrificial offerings, O Lord, become for you a pure oblation, and for us a holy outpouring of your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 15: 11
You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May the working of your power, O Lord, increase in us, we pray, so that, renewed by these heavenly Sacraments, we may be prepared by your gift for receiving what they promise. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson on the use of our resources to build relationships with others. While material possessions themselves are not inherently bad, they can become dangerous if we allow them to control us, and infringe on our freedom. True wealth lies in our relationships with others. Investing our resources in building these connections is an investment in our eternal future. Authentic wealth, therefore, is found in our relationship with God. By choosing to serve God, we open ourselves to provide for the needs of the needy in our midst. Let us ask the Lord to help us to choose true wealth over dishonest wealth and to use our resources to nurture relationships with others while enhancing our service to God. May God be the only true master in our life!
by Norbert Doulanni | Nov 6, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Willibrord (658 – 739)
Psalter: Week III
Green
He was the first of the great Anglo-Saxon missionaries to Europe and is remembered not just for his devotion in preaching the Gospel but also for his joyfulness of character and his holiness of life. He died at Echternach in Luxembourg in 739.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 37: 22-23
Forsake me not, O Lord, my God; be not far from me! Make haste and come to my help, O Lord, my strong salvation!
Collect
Almighty and merciful God, by whose gift your faithful offer you right and praiseworthy service, grant, we pray, that we may hasten without stumbling to receive the things you have promised. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
First reading : Romans 15:14-21
My brothers, I am quite certain that you are full of good intentions, perfectly well instructed and able to advise each other. The reason why I have written to you, and put some things rather strongly, is to refresh your memories, since God has given me this special position. He has appointed me as a priest of Jesus Christ, and I am to carry out my priestly duty by bringing the Good News from God to the pagans, and so make them acceptable as an offering, made holy by the Holy Spirit. I think I have some reason to be proud of what I, in union with Christ Jesus, have been able to do for God. What I am presuming to speak of, of course, is only what Christ himself has done to win the allegiance of the pagans, using what I have said and done by the power of signs and wonders, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus all the way along, from Jerusalem to Illyricum, I have preached Christ’s Good News to the utmost of my capacity. I have always, however, made it an unbroken rule never to preach where Christ’s name has already been heard. The reason for that was that I had no wish to build on other men’s foundations; on the contrary, my chief concern has been to fulfil the text: Those who have never been told about him will see him, and those who have never heard about him will understand.
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 97(98):1-4
R/ The Lord has shown his salvation to the nations.
Sing a new song to the Lord for he has worked wonders. His right hand and his holy arm have brought salvation.
The Lord has made known his salvation; has shown his justice to the nations. He has remembered his truth and love for the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout to the Lord, all the earth, ring out your joy.
Gospel Acclamation : 2Co5:19
Alleluia, alleluia! God in Christ was reconciling the world to himself, and he has entrusted to us the news that they are reconciled. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 16:1-8
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There was a rich man and he had a steward denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, “What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer.” Then the steward said to himself, “Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes.” Then he called his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, “How much do you owe my master?” “One hundred measures of oil” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty.” To another he said, “And you, sir, how much do you owe?” “One hundred measures of wheat” was the reply. The steward said, “Here, take your bond and write eighty.” ‘The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.’
Prayer over the Offerings
May these sacrificial offerings, O Lord, become for you a pure oblation, and for us a holy outpouring of your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 15: 11
You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.
Prayer after Communion
May the working of your power, O Lord, increase in us, we pray, so that, renewed by these heavenly Sacraments, we may be prepared by your gift for receiving what they promise. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Frequently, there is a misconception surrounding the parable of the dishonest steward, as some may mistakenly view it as Jesus’ endorsement of dishonesty. However, Jesus is not praising the steward for his dishonesty. Instead, he highlights the steward’s shrewdness in using his resources to secure his future. Essentialy, Jesus is not endorsing unethical actions but rather emphasising the steward’s cleverness in planning for what lies ahead. Jesus does not recommend dishonesty but urges us to exhibit the same level of diligence for goodness as the steward displayed for dishonesty. Furthermore, a crucial lesson from the parable is the call to be prudent in managing our material and spiritual resources. It urges us to exercise wisdom in handling our finances, time, and talents. We should also be careful about the relationships we form and the choices we make. Let us ask God to help us be good stewards so we can use our resources wisely and generously to benefit ourselves and others.
