Gospel | Luke 16:1-13 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Faithful by Camaryn Avers and Erik Nieder

Lyrics:
Lord you search me how you know me
You perceive my every thought from afar
In all my wandering still you love me
King of glory you pursue my anxious heart

Even when I’m not you're faithful
Even when I doubt your truth holds
Even when I’m lost you won’t let me go
When my heart is dry your grace flows
No matter where I run I’m not far from home
Yea I may be weak but you’re able
Even when I’m not you’re faithful
Even when I’m not you’re faithful

Lord you search me how you know me
You perceive my every thought from afar
In all my wandering still you love me
King of glory you pursue my anxious heart

Where can I go from your spirit
Where can I hide from your face
Where can I flee from your presence
Where would I go where would I go
If I rise to the heavens you’re with me
If I fall to the depths of the sea
Even there it’s your hand that will lead me
Wherever I go wherever I go

Passage:
He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures[a] of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures[b] of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world[c] are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth,[d] so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

Musical Reflection:
Piano Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K. 545: II. Andante by W. A. Mozart

Reflection Notes:
In true fashion for Mozart’s middle movements, this Andante blooms slowly with gentle and delicate notes; the melody ascends in joyful fashion at the most climactic points before settling back down with the satisfying left hand harmonies.

Prayer:
O God, forasmuch as without thee we are not able to please thee, mercifully grant that thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. -The Gelasian Sacramentary