We are a joyful community of disciples proclaiming the Good News and inviting all people to encounter the love and mercy of Jesus Christ.
"The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones."
(Luke 16:10)
Very Small Matters
In the Gospel today, Jesus states that no servant can serve two masters. The implicit question is "whom do we serve?"
Rarely are we given a stark choice in life, with good clearly labeled on one side and evil on the other. Instead, we're presented with many little decisions each day, all of which form us toward God, or something else. The Gospel notes that "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." The small matters, like how we treat people we don't think are important, what we post online, the conversations we have, and the daily decisions we make, often reveal the truth about which master we serve.
In the late 90s there was a self-help book that advised people to not "sweat the small stuff." However, if we listen to the Gospel and pay more attention to the small matters, the larger ones will get considerably easier.
Rarely are we given a stark choice in life, with good clearly labeled on one side and evil on the other. Instead, we're presented with many little decisions each day, all of which form us toward God, or something else. The Gospel notes that "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." The small matters, like how we treat people we don't think are important, what we post online, the conversations we have, and the daily decisions we make, often reveal the truth about which master we serve.
In the late 90s there was a self-help book that advised people to not "sweat the small stuff." However, if we listen to the Gospel and pay more attention to the small matters, the larger ones will get considerably easier.
In our small daily actions, are we serving God or something else?
Lord, help us choose wisely in all areas of our lives, large and small. Amen.
Reflection by:
Chris Pastura is the Superintendent of Catholic Schools and Centers for the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.