Imitate me as I imitate Christ

Phil. 3:17-4:1, Lk. 16:1-8. In today's first reading, Paul urges us to imitate him as he imitates Jesus so that we may be able to look forward to enjoying the fullness of life which awaits us. To be resolute in living out our faith, Paul offers himself as an example, not because he is trying to be boastful, but because he is being honest in his estimation of how much he imitates Jesus. He warns the community that there are some false teachers who preach a message which is 'fake news' – not the Gospel truth. They are only interested in selfish gains and cannot have the image of the salvation of God, which Paul sees and to which he is committed. It is only when we look to God and His promises that we will begin to experience the fullness of the presence of God now and forever.
     
To have a full experience of the presence of God, we must be industrious and put in extra effort like the steward in the parable of today's Gospel. The steward was accused of being wasteful and the master tells the steward to draw him an account of his stewardship before the termination of his stewardship. In order to be liked by some of his master’s debtors, the steward reduces the debt. Jesus challenges His followers to be as ingenious and dedicated in preparing for their eternal future as the steward was to making sure that he would have a comfortable earthly life. As pilgrims plan for the journey to the Heavenly banquet, we are called to make all sorts of preparations and be willing to make whatever sacrifice that is necessary to journey to the place where we can have a stronger sense of the presence of God. Paul wished to go extra miles to win people to God. He offers his imitation of Jesus as a model of how we should look to the Master as the model of what we must be as we journey towards being in the house of God forever.

May the Lord help us with zealous faith to be able to make extra efforts to prepare ourselves worthy of eternal life! Amen!! Keep safe, It is well with you!!!