We are challenged to see our roles, responsibilities, and talents not as entitlements, but as sacred trusts from God. Like the steward in the Gospel, we will one day be called to account for how we used the positions, opportunities, and gifts entrusted to us.

While the steward was praised not for dishonesty, but for his creativity and astuteness in securing his future. Jesus invites us to reflect: Are we as creative and committed in building God’s Kingdom as the world is in building its own?

We are reminded that our talents and positions, whether in ministry, work, or family, are opportunities to serve, sanctify, and bring others closer to Christ. The question is not only whether we are responsible, but also whether we are courageous and creative in making the Gospel alive and attractive in our world today.

Reflection Question: How am I using my gifts and position to serve God faithfully and creatively in my daily life?

Today’s Gospel reminds us that being a disciple of Jesus goes far beyond simply following Him. The crowds followed Jesus out of admiration and curiosity, but few were willing to carry the cross with Him. Discipleship is costly, it demands sacrifice, detachment, and above all, love that puts Christ at the center of every relationship and decision.

Many of us may treat Jesus like a “good luck charm”, praying when we need help, but not truly living His way of love and surrender. True discipleship means loving God above all else, even above our families, possessions, and comforts. When we love Jesus first, we learn how to love others rightly: not possessively, but freely and selflessly, as He loves us.

Love that costs nothing is not love. To love as Jesus loves is to carry our cross daily with joy and humility, trusting that every trial purifies our hearts and draws us closer to Him.

Reflection Question: Where in my life is Jesus inviting me to move from being a follower to becoming His disciple?

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a distant dream, but a present reality experienced through love, communion, and relationship. Heaven is a banquet, a joyful celebration of our relationship with God and one another, and everyone is invited. Yet many of us decline this invitation, distracted by work, achievements, hobbies, or even relationships that have forgotten their centre: God.

When we place Christ at the heart of every relationship, our lives become a foretaste of Heaven’s joy. But when we turn inward, absorbed by success, pride or pleasure, we experience isolation, which is a foretaste of hell.

Each of us has different gifts, but they are meant to build up one Body in Christ. When we learn to value and complement one another, rather than compete or compare, we live as true brothers and sisters, children of one Father.

Reflection Question: How can I make more room for God and others, so that my relationships become a true communion of love?

Like St. Paul, we feel deep sorrow when our loved ones turn away from God. But instead of losing hope, we’re called to trust in God’s mercy and timing, believing He continues to work quietly in their hearts and will draw them back to His grace in His own way.

What do I need to surrender to better entrust the conversion of my loved ones to the Lord?

To be singular-minded in our mission means staying focused on the Father’s will despite trials and opposition. Jesus and St. Paul embody this steadfastness, remaining faithful because they were rooted in the Father’s love and trusted in His unwavering faithfulness to see them through to the end.

What prevents me from loving and trusting the Father like Jesus?

Salvation is more than belonging to the Church or following the law. It is about entering into a living, transforming relationship with God. We are called not to take this gift for granted, but to keep deepening our friendship with the Lord.

Is my current relationship with God transforming me? How can I deepen my relationship with Him?

Sts Simon and Jude remind us that holiness is not about fame, position, or recognition. It is about faithfulness. Though little is known of them, their hidden lives reveal a truth at the heart of the Gospel: every person has a unique and irreplaceable role in God’s plan.

Like the Apostles, we are each chosen, not because of our ability but because of God’s grace.

In a world that measures worth by status and success, their example calls us back to humility, unity, and prayer – the real foundations of God’s household. When we align ourselves with Christ in prayer, every act of service, however unseen, becomes a part of His saving work.

Jesus declared, “I have come to bring fire to the earth!” That fire is the burning zeal of love, a passion that consumes the heart and drives us toward our God-given mission. But over time, even that fire can fade. Routine, sin, or comfort can cool our passion until faith feels like maintenance rather than mission.

Jesus reminds us today that true discipleship is never lukewarm. His fire purifies, challenges, and renews. To rekindle our zeal, we must return to the source: the Holy Spirit, prayer, reconciliation, and the love we share with others. When our hearts burn again with God’s love, everything we do becomes life-giving.

Reflection Question: Where in my life have I grown comfortable, and how is Jesus inviting me to rekindle my zeal for His mission?