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There are times we do not know the truth anymore.
People now could lie digitally or in the real life.
With social media posts, even facts can be distorted by anyone with the right editing app.
Fake news comes up.
Misinformation can happen thru the internet.
In real life, deceitful people will fake their records, feelings or even friends….
To get the money they want.
From victims they chose to manipulate.
Fooling people displeases God.
Lies hurt people.
Hurt relationships.
Hurt families.
Even hurt the next generation of families for hidden lies once uncovered.
God does not like lies.
God upholds the truth.
Sunday Gospel mentions Jesus encouraging us to be trustworthy with the little we have….
To be entrusted more….
Forgive how God forgave you.
We can not serve money & lies
and God at the same time.
Follow God.
First reading mentions God knows if people trample upon the needy & the poor.
God loves those who are dependent on Him.
Do not bring deceit to God’s loved people.
Be true to God’s people.
Second reading is about St.Paul reminding Ephesians to pray for all men & our leaders to have a peaceful & godly life.
Decisions of our leaders affect us.
St.Paul reminds us that everywhere, there should be people praying.
Praying without argument or quarreling.
St.Paul wants prayer for us.
Not division.
Not fights among ourselves.
Sun sept 22 2019
First Reading AMOS 8:4-7
Hear this, you who trample upon the needy, and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, “When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great, and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and sell the refuse of the wheat?” The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
What do these verses mean to me?
The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.
Who will God never forget the deeds?
Why?
GOD will not forget the unjust & their wrong deeds:
– who trample on needy
– deal deceitfully with false balances
– buy poor & needy for a cheap price.
God will not forget their wrong & deceitful deeds.
We could see that God himself will not forget also..
His loved people.
The needy people.
The poor people.
People poor not just in money.
People weakened by hopelessness, struggles & trials.
He has special attention for people who need Him the most.
God is a God of all.
The just God.
Second Reading 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-8
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
What do these verses mean to me?
● A letter of St.Paul to Timothy & Christians in Ephesus
I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions – St.Paul
● St.Paul tells us to pray for:
– government leaders & government staff
– Catholic Church leaders like the Pope, Archbishop, Bishop, priests & nun
– lay leaders in parishes & other servants in the parishes
– leaders in Catholic communities (Charismatic groups)
– All people
● In St.Paul’s time & even in our time, these leaders are not perfect.
They have flaws.
That’s why we need to pray for them.
Why?
St.Paul says
so we may lead a quiet & peaceable life, godly & respectful in every way.
St.Paul sees effects of leader decisions in government & anyone in authority over us.
If there is anything you do not like about your country, government, church & society….
PRAY for your LEADERS.
Pray for all MEN.
This is good & acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved & come to the knowledge of the truth – St.Paul
● God wants everyone to be saved
For there is 1 God, & there is 1 mediator between God & men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time – St.Paul
● Jesus, our mediator to God the Father
● Jesus paid for our sins thru his death on the cross
●St.Paul was appointed as a preacher & apostle
●St.Paul, a teacher of Gentiles in faith & truth
I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling – St.Paul
Do we follow St.Paul about people praying in every
place?
Sad to say, not everyone wants to pray today in our world.
Urge people to pray.
For a future of great life.
When we pray, we should not be angry.
Lift our hands when we pray.
We do not quarrel among ourselves in the Church.
Remove quarreling with each other.
Gospel LUKE 16:1-13
He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a steward, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. And he called him and said to him, `What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’ And the steward said to himself, `What shall I do, since my master is taking the stewardship away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that people may receive me into their houses when I am put out of the stewardship.’ So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, `How much do you owe my master?’ He said, `A hundred measures of oil.’ And he said to him, `Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ Then he said to another, `And how much do you owe?’ He said, `A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, `Take your bill, and write eighty.’ The master commended the dishonest steward for his shrewdness; for the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations. “He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
What do these verses mean to me?
● Be faithful with the little
● If God can trust you more when you are trust worthy with the little
● If you want promotion for a bigger authority, be faithful on your small tasks
● Follow God & his commandments
● We can not serve God with other gods
● Do what is right & pleasing to the eyes of God
● If God can forgive you so much, then forgive others as well
Drink Daily: God`s Word 