Sermon Tone Analysis

Title

Using What We Have

Outline

I will never forget when I first clearly confronted the issue of the danger of wealth

Prof. F. F. Bruce was teaching a course on 2 Corinthians and simply his reading 2 Cor 8 - 9 in his Scottish brogue was shocking

I would later make the topic a major portion of my thesis on James, including plenty of work in Luke

Jesus warns us “The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones”

Wealth, defined as what we have and/or can use, is the core of wheat he is talking about - in a sense no one owns anything, but rather is using what God has made available for their use

Even those with a vow of poverty have some things and can use other things - in fact, that is one of our opportunities for virtue

The problem that Jesus addresses is whether we are attached to things or whether we share them freely

Romans shows us some people who were virtuous in their use of what they had

Paul starts with Phoebe, a deaconess (whatever that meant in those days), who was traveling to Rome and carried Romans - we do not know what her reason was, but we do know she would have read Romans aloud and then have explained obscure points and answered questions about Paul - letter carriers did that in those days - she used and shared what she had

Then we get 7 house church leaders or leader couples - all shared their houses as centers for a church, their time, energy, and money (and most likely had little), and even risked their lives.

They used what they had for the church.

Tertius was a scribe and used his skills to write Romans - we do not know how much he contributed to the writing

Each contributed what they had for the good of and unity of the church, and the other churches responded with love, prayers, and greetings

This is a simple lesson, Sisters, but one we need to be constantly reminded of

Detachment from mammon in whatever form we have or can use it

Attachment to others in the name of the Lord

Using what we have, however simple, for the good of others

If the Church truly lived this, it would find evangelism easy.

Readings

FIRST READING

Romans 16:3–9, 16, 22–27

3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I am grateful but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 greet also the church at their house.

Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the firstfruits in Asia for Christ.

6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners; they are prominent among the apostles and they were in Christ before me.

8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss.

All the churches of Christ greet you.

22 I, Tertius, the writer of this letter, greet you in the Lord.

23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you.

Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus greet you.

[24 ]

[25 Now to him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret for long ages 26 but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith, 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever.

Amen.]

RESPONSE

Psalm 145:1b

1 Praise.

Of David.

I will extol you, my God and king;

I will bless your name forever and ever.

PSALM

Psalm 145:2–5, 10–11

2 Every day I will bless you;

I will praise your name forever and ever.

3 Great is the LORD and worthy of much praise,

whose grandeur is beyond understanding.

4 One generation praises your deeds to the next

and proclaims your mighty works.

5 They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,

tell of your wonderful deeds.

10 All your works give you thanks, LORD

and your faithful bless you.

11 They speak of the glory of your reign

and tell of your mighty works,

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

2 Corinthians 8:9

9  For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake he became poor although he was rich, so that by his poverty you might become rich.

GOSPEL

Luke 16:9–15

9 I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

10 The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.

11 If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?

12 If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?

13 No servant can serve two masters.

He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.

You cannot serve God and mammon.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all these things and sneered at him.

15 And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God.

Notes

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

SATURDAY OF THE THIRTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR 1 | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Romans 16:3–9, 16, 22–27

Response Psalm 145:1b

Psalm Psalm 145:2–5, 10–11

Gospel Acclamation 2 Corinthians 8:9

Gospel Luke 16:9–15

GREEN