25th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle C

Prayer  

Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Prince of Peace. May your peaceable kingship reign in our hearts. May your Kingdom of Peace break into our world now. Come Lord Jesus!
Amen.

Commentary

1st Reading: Amos 8:4-7

Last week, we saw how unforgiving hearts can lead to violence and death, while a forgiving heart leads to love and life.
If last week focused on the power of forgiving, this week we focus on the power of giving. “Giving until it hurts,” as St. Mother Teresa said, is the proper response for one who is called to be a steward for life.

In our First Reading, the Prophet Amos shows us God’s anger toward those who would cheat the poor and the lowly. Here, we have an example of those who are not stewards for life. To those “who buy the lowly for silver and the poor for a pair of sandals,” the Lord “will never forget a thing they have done.”

When people do not receive just wages for their work, when society does not care for the mentally disadvantaged living on the streets, when we neglect those in developing nations, there is a great injustice and God takes notice. As Christian stewards for life, we need to take an account of ourselves and ask, “What have I done for the poor lately?” Before we do that, we may have to address the question below

Question:

Who are the poor and lowly in my life?

2nd Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

St. Mother Teresa was once asked about her service to the poor in India: “When poverty is all around you, where do you begin?” Her answer was, “I begin with the person next to me.”

In addition to serving the poor ourselves, St. Paul offers us another way in order to address the needs of our world. In our Second Reading, he says, “I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone, for kings and all in authority.” Certainly, we are asked to pray for those who have the power to enact laws to help alleviate poverty.

Curiously, however, Paul urges his readers to offer thanksgiving to God for the kings and authorities. Could Paul really offer thanksgiving to God for Caesar and those who have conquered the poor and the week?

Perhaps Paul is looking to the office, rather than the person. Whether the office is king, pope, or president, the office offers an opportunity for stewards for life to approach and ask what can be done to change the face of the world.

Question:

Do you thank God for the offices of government empowered to effect change?

Gospel: Luke 16:1-13

It is curious that the Lord gives praise to the dishonest steward in our Gospel today. However, the praise is not for his dishonesty as much as it is
for his ability to “think outside of the box.”

As we look to the challenge of poverty in our lives, there is a tendency to give up hope. However, as Christian stewards for life, we are asked to think outside of the box in order to change our world. We can do this when we get involved in addressing small injustices within our own neighborhoods or cities, or large injustices within our states and country.

Taking political stands for the poor through neighborhood advocacy efforts, informing ourselves about the proposed laws of our state and region, and casting our votes are obvious ways to help to change our world for the better.

When we think outside of the box, we should also think inside the box. As we read earlier, St. Mother Teresa addressed world poverty beginning with the person next to her. In an effort to help the poor in our world, we may be missing the poor within our own neighborhoods or families.

Question:

In dealing with issues related to the poor, how are you thinking outside of the box? How are you thinking inside the box?

This Week’s Task 

Does your parish have an outreach to the poor in your neighborhood? In what way should you be involved?
Take some time this week and ponder these questions.

Group Prayer

The group offers the following prayer by St. Mother Teresa:

Who is Jesus to me?
Jesus is the Word made Flesh. Jesus is the Bread of Life.
Jesus is the Victim offered for our sins
on the Cross.
Jesus is the Sacrifice at Holy Mass for
the sins of the world and mine. Jesus is the Word – to be spoken. Jesus is the Truth – to be told.
Jesus is the Way – to be walked. Jesus is the Light – to be lit.
Jesus is the Life – to be loved. Jesus is the Joy – to be shared. Jesus is the Sacrifice – to be given.
Jesus is the Bread of Life – to be eaten. Jesus is the Hungry – to be fed.
Jesus is the Thirsty – to be satiated. Jesus is the Naked – to be clothed. Jesus is the Homeless – to be taken in. Jesus is the Sick – to be healed.
Jesus is the Lonely – to be loved. Jesus is the Unwanted – to be wanted.
Jesus is the Leper – to wash his wounds. Jesus is the Beggar – to give him a smile. Jesus is the Drunkard – to listen to him. Jesus is the Little One – to embrace him. Jesus is the Dumb – to speak to him.
Jesus is the Crippled – to walk with him. Jesus is the Drug Addict – to befriend him.
Jesus is the Prostitute – to remove from danger and befriend her.
Jesus is the Prisoner – to be visited. Jesus is the Old – to be served.
To me Jesus is my God, Jesus is my Spouse, Jesus is my Life,
Jesus is my only Love, Jesus is my All in All, Jesus is my Everything.
Amen.

Conclude with an Our Father