In today's first reading one gets a sense that Paul is talking from his own experience of life. He as we know was once an enemy of Christ and thought he was doing a good thing by persecuting the Christians. No wonder he now sheds tears as he says "Their glory is in their shame". This too was once his glory. Now Paul can glory in his weakness as he knows that Christ is his strength.

Since his conversion to Christ, Paul can truly ask us to be imitators of him as he himself lives out his life in imitation of Christ in bringing the good news to others. This gives us great hope. Whatever our present circumstances in life God can transform us into His own likeness. This is Paul's great desire for all of us as it was for his own followers whom he loved and longed for at the time of his own suffering and imprisonment. His mission is to help us to come to know God's love as he knew it and experienced it in his life.

If the dishonest stewart in today's Gospel reading was prudent in using the things of this life to ensure his future, how much more should we believers try to live out our lives in imitation of Christ.