25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
 September 18, 2022

First Reading:  Amos 8:4-7
Psalm # 113 R: Praise the Lord, who lifts up the poor.
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Gospel Acclamation Verse: Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. (2 Corinthians 8-9)
Gospel:  Luke 16:1-13
Theme:  Honesty- faithful in both small and big things.

Commentary by Jane Prini

Have you ever had to make a choice between being honest and getting what you want right away? Maybe Grandma has given you $10.00 to get her a drink at the church craft show. After you do, you notice you have enough money left over to buy a cool toy you saw. Do you bring the change back to grandma or do you use the money to buy the toy before you go back to her? Or let's say you find a wallet with $20.00 in it while at the arcade. There is no name in the wallet. What do you do? Do you hand it into lost and found or do you keep it for yourself?  

Today’s gospel has a lot to teach us about honesty and being faithful to God our Father. Jesus tells a parable about a dishonest steward or manager who is accused of stealing from his master, and works a plan to get on the ‘good side’ of his master’s debtors. It works, and the master praises the steward. Jesus then adds a teaching to this parable. Jesus wants everyone, as well as us, to hear his teaching. 

In this case the parable is meant to show a spiritual truth, with an unexpected twist. Jesus has much to say about money and how we have to make a choice to be selfish with it or to share it with others who may be needing our help. He uses the word ‘mammon” meaning the riches, treasures or material possessions that we hold for ourselves, and perhaps acquire in a dishonest way, maybe making them more important than our friendship with God, and labels them as ‘dishonest wealth’.

He is telling us to be honest in even the little things we do, unlike the dishonest steward. He calls us to faithfulness in little things because most of life is made up of small things and small choices. Most of us are not able to save the world but we can visit a friend, help a neighbour and share our belongings with those who have less. How we live this life will make a difference in our eternal life.

Later in the gospel, Jesus calls us to faithfulness with how we use money. Whatever our circumstances, we can help the needy. Jesus makes it clear that he wants us to help others. We are tempted, though, to love money too much and to hold it too closely, making it a god.
The last verse of today’s gospel “No servant can serve two masters” (v. 13) is a simple statement of fact, as if Jesus had said, ‘You cannot walk east and west at the same time’. Money can be much like a great magnet, always threatening to pull us away from God. It can make us a servant to it. We have to make the choice to be honest and to use it in ways to help others. 

Discussion starters: (Choose one or more of these after reading today’s scripture readings)

1. Discuss one of the examples given above, of choosing to be honest. How would you act?
2. Enjoy one of the craft activities on the next page to remind your family of today’s readings

Prayer for Families: 

God, your scared laws are based on love of you and our neighbour. Help us to choose to be honest in small and big things daily. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever, AMEN

CLICK, READ MORE FOR FAMILY RESOURCES, Colouring Page, Cross Word Puzzle and Word Search
 

Read More