We, however, are citizens of heaven, and we eagerly wait for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. – Philippians 3:20

       I was among the old-fashioned and conservative Catholics who don’t believe in insurance. I used to think, “Why get one on earth when I know that my life is already insured in heaven?”

       I found an ally when my old professor in college said almost the same thing. “Wow! What faith in God,” I told myself. So my early twenties were spent in investing in higher education while my late twenties focused only on providing for my present needs.

       But when I met the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and the one I believe God had prepared for me, my perspective changed. Suddenly, getting insurance sounded practical.

       I know that I have spent most of my single life storing riches in heaven, and I will continue to do so. But the practical side of me and an unexpected death in the family have taught me that getting insurance is not a sign of a lack of faith. It is an act of preparation.

       Just as living for the Lord ensures my eternity with Him, getting insurance makes sense so that I won’t be a burden for those I will leave behind. Ems Sy Chan (havenofleeanne@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Are you prepared to be a citizen in heaven? The best time to start is now.

Father, help us prepare every day for our death. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

St. Didacus, pray for us.

Paul is supremely confident that he has the right interpretation of the Gospel in that he calls us to imitate his example of faith. This could be see as arrogance but I think it is simply a sign of the depth of conversion that has occurred in his life. He certainly had great grace working in his life to bring him from his position of self-righteousness to one of being saved by faith.

18 For many, as I have often told you and now tell you even in tears, conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction. Their God is their stomach; their glory is in their “shame.” Their minds are occupied with earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. 4:1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.

R: Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

1 I rejoiced because they said to me, “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” 2 And now we have set foot within your gates, O Jerusalem. (R) 3 Jerusalem, built as a city with compact unity. 4 To it the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord. (R) According to the decree for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. 5 In it are set up judgment seats, seats for the house of David.

We must be men and women of the truth. We also need to be wise to the ways and caprices of the world, not so that we can participate in them but to avoid falling in the same trap. It is not easy to proclaim the Gospel today, especially if you are directing your proclamation over a wide spectrum of society. It is relatively easier to target a specific audience and work with a select group of people.

Whoever keeps the word of Christ, the love of God is truly perfected in him.

1 Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. 2 He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’ 3 The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’ 5 He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’ 7 Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’ 8 And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.”

think:  We must be men and women of the truth.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Isaiah 61-63

GOOD OVER EVIL? NO BRAINER!

“For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light” (Luke 16:8). This summarizes the message of the parable as told by Jesus.

       The New American Bible entitled this reading, “The Parable of the Dishonest Steward.” It would seem that Jesus was praising the steward’s “dishonesty.” How can Jesus tolerate, much more praise, dishonesty? If we examine the parable, Jesus was pointing out the shrewdness of the steward because of his impending disaster. Since he had committed a big mistake in the business entrusted to him, he was bound to lose his job and more. Thus, anticipating that he will be financially miserable, he went out and convinced his master’s debtors to pay less than what they owed. In the process, his master’s debtors would see that gesture as gratuity and goodwill. With that recognition, he may be able to ask favors from them in the future.

         Jesus wanted the “children of light”(the good ones) to adopt the shrewdness of the “children of this world”(the bad ones). In other words, in the same way that the children of the world are willing to use everything they have, including immoral ways, to secure their future, the “children of light” should also use every God-given talent and good ways to be in God’s favor. If evil is serious in its craft and determined to succeed, the good should also be equally, if not more, serious and determined to succeed. With God on our side, we are bound to succeed and achieve more.

       In the Philippines, there are many Filipinos who possess extraordinary skills and exemplary expertise, especially in scams and crimes of deception. Jesus expects the same from good people. If they will work as hard, they will achieve more. If good people will be lax, evil will easily triumph. God never abandons us, but we must do our part. If God is with us, evil cannot stand against us! Fr. Benny Tuazon

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you use every God-given talent that you have in fulfilling your mission in life?

Lord, may I have the determination and perseverance to do good, no matter what.