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(Amos 8:4-7;\xa0\xa0 Ps.113:1-2,4-8;\xa0\xa0 1Tm.2:1-8;\xa0\xa0 Lk.16:1-13) \xa0 \u201cIf you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours?\u201d \xa0 This world and the things of it are not our own; we are children of heaven.\xa0 Yet we are here amongst these things which are foreign to us.\xa0 And so, what should we do?\xa0 With all the Lord puts in our hands as we pass through this generation we must honor God.\xa0 Though in the world of mammon, we must use it to serve our God in heaven.\xa0 Thus\xa0 we shall prove ourselves worthy to enter into that kingdom which is above, which is our true home.\xa0 This call is stated simply in the Lord\u2019s Prayer when we say, \u201cOn earth as it is in heaven\u201d \u2013 we must bring the kingdom of God to bear in this place we find ourselves. In our first reading, Amos makes clear what our attitude should not be with regard to the riches or power we may find at our disposal.\xa0 We must never \u201ctrample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land.\u201d\xa0 We must never reflect the greed of these merchants who cannot wait for the sabbath, the Lord\u2019s Day, to end, that they might satiate their thirst for wealth, and this by dishonest means.\xa0 The Lord will condemn such pride and avarice. In our second reading, Paul gives a clearer idea the manner in which power should be employed in his exhortation to prayer for those in position of authority.\xa0 God \u201cwills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth,\u201d and if our kings seek to maintain peace in the world, they will save not only themselves, but provide ground for others to come to God.\xa0 Again, all that is given us, be it riches, power, wisdom or strength, must be given over to service of the Lord.\xa0 We must be as He \u201cwho gave Himself as ransom for all\u201d in His teaching, in His healing, indeed, in the laying down of His very life.\xa0 And so, if we ourselves are teachers, we must be as Paul and do so \u201cin faith and truth,\u201d without any deceit.\xa0 And when we offer prayers, we must always lift up \u201choly hands, without anger or argument.\u201d\xa0 In our prayer should always be forgiveness of others. In our gospel parable Jesus illustrates and commends not deceitful dealings with others\u2019 wealth, but to be wise in what is given us, to turn the riches of this world against the prince of this world (Satan), and use them for the good of the kingdom.\xa0 Even in these things which are the devil\u2019s we must work to serve our Master in heaven. And so we feed the hungry, we clothe the naked, we pray for those in power, that the Lord who is \u201chigh above all nations\u201d and whose glory is \u201cabove the heavens\u201d might stoop down to us and through us fulfill the mission of Christ; for \u201cHe raises the lowly from the dust, from the dunghill He lifts the poor.\u201d\xa0 And we must do the same to find our place with Him in heaven. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Asylum Paradox" from Thoroughfare, seventh album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, let us serve you alone \xa0 with all that is at our hands.\xa0 YHWH, help us to be trustworthy in the very small matters of this dishonest world, with the wealth that passes so quickly away.\xa0 This is not our world, but your world we must reveal to this place; if we do not reflect your glory now, how can we be called children of your light?\xa0 And so we pray for all souls, that they will turn from the oppression wrought by their greedy hands and acknowledge you as God Most High and your Son as their Redeemer.\xa0 We desire no man to be trampled underfoot but for everyone to be saved and come to knowledge of the truth; and so with hands held aloft we call down your mercy, dear LORD.\xa0 With the things you place in our hands here upon this dying earth, let us be faithful, let us be true \u2013 let us produce fruit unto the kingdom of Heaven.\xa0 Heaven is our only home, and so with all our strength let us seek to raise souls to dwell there with all your angels and saints.