Luke 16:9-15 NRSVue

⁹And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone they may welcome you into the eternal homes.^,

¹⁰“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much, and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. ¹¹If, then, you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? ¹²And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? ¹³No slave can serve two masters, for a slave will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”^,

¹⁴The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him. ¹⁵So he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts, for what is prized by humans is an abomination in the sight of God.

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Some thoughts on this scripture

Reflection
This is a series of words, ‘sound bites' and varied instructions of Jesus. We mull over each of them and see which today might touch us most. The scripture always has something new to say. Rather than read the word of scripture as you might read a newspaper, you might allow the gospel words to read you. They words of Jesus are like the words of a friend or a loved one. They brighten up our day.

Reflection
I might look again at the advertising that is all around. I think of what these messages say to me about the values of the world and consider how my way of living might be a 'billboard' for the message of Jesus.

Reflection
It is easy to be preoccupied by concerns and priorities. I take time now to be in the presence of God who loves me, laying aside other distractions or bringing them before God.