Potential for Crisis

Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 Philippians 3:17—4:1

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters, 
and observe those who thus conduct themselves 
according to the model you have in us.
For many, as I have often told you 
and now tell you even in tears, 
conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction.
Their God is their stomach; 
their glory is in their “shame.”
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, 
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified Body 
by the power that enables him also 
to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, 
in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.  
 

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5

R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
I rejoiced because they said to me,
“We will go up to the house of the LORD.”
And now we have set foot
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Jerusalem, built as a city
with compact unity.
To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the LORD.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
According to the decree for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
In it are set up judgment seats,
seats for the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.

 

 

Alleluia 1 John 2:5

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever keeps the word of Christ,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Luke 16:1-8

Jesus said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said,
‘What is this I hear about you?
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.’
The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me?
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that,
when I am removed from the stewardship,
they may welcome me into their homes.’
He called in his master’s debtors one by one.
To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note.
Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’
Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of wheat.’  
He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note;
write one for eighty.’
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
For the children of this world
are more prudent in dealing with their own generation
than the children of light.”

- - -

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Potential for Crisis

November 6, 2026 // Friday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: Philippians 3:17–4:1

Reflect on the Word // 

“Is it a crisis or is it a potential crisis?” I asked. 

His eyes met mine and he gave me a glimmer of a smile. “I guess it is a potential crisis but it could very easily become a crisis if—” 

I gently cut him off with the raise of my hand and suggested we address it when it becomes a crisis. I assured him that we had done everything we could. The likelihood of it becoming a crisis was very small and we were currently powerless to affect the situation. A potential crisis would not take center stage in our morning.  

The tempo of modern life often moves us from disaster to disaster where we have little power, control, or influence. It can be easy to live with heightened anxiety, trying to stay alert to the next catastrophe. We waste time, focus, and energy on problems we can’t solve, becoming distracted with things that are none of our concern, rather than tending to those who are in need right before us. 

In today’s First Reading, Saint Paul gives us a better way. We are instructed to stand firm in the Lord and our citizenship in Heaven, and to not let our minds become occupied with earthly things (see Philippians 3:19-20). There will always be struggles to persevere through, problems to solve, and situations that are less than ideal. In those moments, we call upon the Lord and His guidance to help us figure it out. But until then, we keep our focus on being a sister of Christ, a friend of the Cross (see Philippians 3:18), and continue standing firm in the Lord. 

Relate to the Lord // Identify the things that are occupying your mind. Lift your eyes off the crisis and towards Heaven. 

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