Make Friends

“Make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." Luke 16:10

We see a lot of people amassing wealth dishonestly. There are politicians who think nothing of commandeering the coffers of the nation to build mansions, travel extravagantly, or construct monuments to themselves on our streets. 

Then there are the petty thieves on motorcycles who prey on unsuspecting women and children. But what about us? 

Are we aware that each of us are exiles in this place called earth and we are only passing through? Imagine if you will that we are in a foreign land, a poor little village in Africa. And amidst the squalor, we start to build a palace, and act as if we are going to stay there forever. But in a few days we are supposed to leave for home. Is it not a folly, a stupid thing to do? A waste? When what we should have been doing was building good relationships, and finding ways to help the others around us better their lives? 

The Saint whose feast day we celebrate today lived his faith intensely. Once, St. Martin of Tours, while on horseback in Gaul, met a beggar. As he had nothing but the clothes on his back, St. Martin cut his heavy cloak and gave half to the poor man. Later, he had a vision of Christ wearing the garment.