7 November 2014
Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
Christ’s words in the Gospel today are rather counter-intuitive and yet commonly true: “the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.” (Lk 16:8) Good Christians who try to remember with St. Paul that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20) may forget that they are nevertheless to be Christ’s ambassadors in the world (2 Cor 5:20).
For example, I have heard from Christians who view political service or business entrepreneurship as something requiring a shrewd character that is incompatible with one who wants to follow Christ. Yet, the Christian ought to be the shrewdest of men, while at the same time using his shrewdness only for good. As our Lord puts it, “Be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves.” (Mt 10:16)
Today, let us ask for the grace to know that God has chosen us to be “children of light” whose “citizenship is in heaven.” Let us long to be united with him there and so not cling to the things of this world. Let us at the same time ask for the grace to know how to be wise in our dealings with others, so that our light may not be hid under a bushel basket, but may be brought to bear on the marketplace and the public square.