First Reading

Reading from the letter of the Apostle Saint Paul to the Philippians

Philippians 4, 10-19

Brothers and sisters: I have rejoiced greatly in the Lord that your concern for me has once again been shown. It is not that you did not have it, but that you lacked the opportunity to help me. I do not say this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content with what I have.

I know what it is to live in poverty and also what it is to have plenty. I am accustomed to everything: both to eating well and to going hungry; both to abundance and to scarcity. I can do all things through him who gives me strength. Nevertheless, you have done well in helping me when I was in need.

You know, Philippians, that when I first preached the Gospel, when I left Macedonia, no Christian community, except you, gave me financial help in return for what they had received from me. Even when I was in Thessalonica, on more than one occasion you sent me help to relieve my needs.

It is not that I seek your gifts; what matters to me is that you become ever richer before God. I have all I need and more than I need. I have more than enough with what Epaphroditus brought me from you, which is an offering and sacrifice acceptable to God. And my God, with his infinite riches, will supply all your needs in abundance, through Christ Jesus.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 16, 9-15

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “With money, so full of injustice, make friends for yourselves, so that when you die, they may welcome you into heaven. Whoever is faithful in small matters is also faithful in great ones; and whoever is unfaithful in small matters is also unfaithful in great ones. If you are not faithful stewards of money, so full of injustice, who will entrust you with true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is not yours, who will entrust you with what is yours?

No servant can serve two masters, for he will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to the first and despise the second. In short, you cannot serve both God and money.”

When the Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things, they mocked Jesus. But he said to them: “You seek to appear righteous before men, but God knows your hearts, and what is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.”