6 November 2021

Saturday of the Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time

In the last line of today’s Gospel reading (Luke 16:9-15), Jesus tells the Pharisees that “what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.” In the context of Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees, this statement speaks to the Pharisees’ love of money, but as a more general principle, Jesus’ words are a reminder to us that our limited, human perspective must constantly be challenged and corrected by God’s own perspective. This message resonates throughout Scripture, as the Lord says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways” (Isa 55:8). 

When we read and meditate on the word of God and contemplate the life of Christ, we should desire and even expect to be challenged in our habits and ways of thinking. If we are not—if God’s word merely confirms our manner of thinking and acting—then we may not be allowing it to penetrate us fully. And while letting God’s word pierce and upset us may be uncomfortable, we know by faith that ultimately it is fruitful, since “for freedom Christ set us free” (Gal 5:1).

Today, then, let us pray for the grace to be unsettled and re-oriented by our encounter with God, whether in the sacraments, in prayer, or through his word given in Scripture. Then we can hope to strive after what is good and pleasing to Him.