Daily Gospel Reflection for November 5, 2022

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Rick Hernandez

Today's Gospel: Luke 16:9-15

I watched a social experiment on TV. A researcher chose a homeless man in the street and told him, "Please have this pizza. It is for you." Then he left. The homeless man started to eat the pizza when a different researcher sat by him and proclaimed to be hungry. The homeless man immediately took a pizza slice and gave it to the researcher, smiling while happily eating, sharing from his unexpected bounty.

The researchers repeated their experiment many times and consistently (if not always) got the same result. The poor acknowledged the hunger in others and shared their food. But what about the thousands that walked by this man daily? Did they recognize the hunger of the poor?

The less we have, the more detached from things we could become. Similarly, the more we have, the more we could grow attached to things. When we grow attached to our wealth, we compromise our charity.

"No servant can serve two masters.  . . . You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 19:13) Our love must not be for things but for God and His beloved people.

Society tells us to build wealth. But holding on to our God-given wealth while our brother is homeless, sick, hungry, and threatened goes against our purpose. We must use our wealth justly, for that is its purpose, justice. We responsibly keep what is required for our needs. Whatever is left becomes available, under discernment, for the good of our brethren. This applies to everything, our wealth in money, time, ability, and wisdom.

From God's rich poverty in the humble Eucharist, we are fed abundantly. He gives us His all, everything He is. Can we charitably give ourselves this way? Let us become aware of how we are rich and share from that with those in need.

Ponder:

In what ways are we wealthy? Do we use that wealth justly and charitably? How can we do better?

Pray:

Lord Jesus, help us grow in charity and justice, that through the wealth in money, time, ability, and wisdom that You have provided to us, we can care for the poor, sick, hungry, and threatened. May our hearts grow to be as Your heart is.

Click to tweet:
Society tells us to build wealth. But holding on to our God-given wealth while our brother is homeless, sick, hungry, and threatened goes against our purpose. #dailygospel

Copyright 2022 Rick Hernandez

Rick Hernandez is a common sense Catholic, Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament, husband to Ivonne, father, and director of Elisheba House. Visit Elisheba House.