I ask that prayers and petitions be offered ... for all in authority,
that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life, in all devotion and dignity
2nd Reading

No matter what you might think of President Obama,
you should admit that he has brought grace and dignity to his office.

As for the political climate these days -
it is shrill, contemptous, and often degrading.

The "F" word has been publicly uttered.
A handicapped person has been mocked.
Opponents have been publicl y scorned and derided.

We are indeed in need of prayer.

The Gospel today is enigmatic and convoluted.
Make friends with crooks we are told!

What is this all about?

What Jesus is really saying is that the children of darkness
are all too often much more clever in their activities
than the children of light.

ISIS propaganda - indeed any kind of propaganda -
can be much more EFFECTIVE than the truth.

The ending lines of the Gospel are very dramatic:
"You cannot serve both God and Mammon!" [Money]

Last week Mother Teresa was canonized.
She showed by her life's work that
love is more precious than any gold.

And so we pray:
O God, we pray for our President and all our leaders,
that we might, through their efforts for the common good,
lead more tranquil lives.

Amen