25th Sunday of the Year (C)

Sunday Readings for your Reflection: Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

25th Sunday of the Year (C), September 22, 2013

Liturgical readings
Amos 8:4-7
Psalm 113
1 Timothy 2:1-8
Luke 16:1-13

What the Lord says is this: that we place our trust in Him.



Jesus said to his disciples:


"A rich man had a manager
who was reported to him
        for dissiplating his property.


He summoned him
and said,


'What is this I hear about you?


Give me an account of your service,
for it is about to come to an end.'


The manager thought to himself,


'What shall I do next?
My employer is sure to dismiss me.
I cannot dig ditches.
I am ashamed to go begging.


I have it!


Here is a way to make sure
that people will take me into their homes
when I am let go.'


"So he called in each of his master's debtors,


and said to the first,


'How much do you owe my master?'


The man replied,
'A hundred jars of oil.'


The manager said,
'Take your invoice,
sit down quickly,
and make it fifty.'


Then he said to a second,


'How much do you owe?'


The answer came,
'A hundred measures of wheat.'


and the manager said,
'Take your invoice
and make it eighty.'


"The owner then gave his devious employee
credit for being enterprising!


Why?


Because the worldly take more initiative
than the other-worldly
when it comes to dealing with their own kind".


"What I say to you is this:


Make friends for yourselves
through your use of this world's goods,
so that when they fail you,
a lasting reception will be yours.


If you can trust a man in little things,
you can also trust him in greater.'


If you cannot be trusted with elusive wealth,
who will trust you with lasting?


And if you have not been trustworthy
with someone else's money,
who will give you what is your own?


"No servant can serve two masters.
Either he will hate the one
and love the other
or be attentive to the one
and despise the other.


You cannot give yourself to God and money."

Scripture quotes from the readings:
"High above all nations is the Lord; above the heavens is his glory." (Psalm 113)
"God wants all men to be saved and come to know the truth." (1 Timothy)
"Petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be offered for all men,
especially for kings and those in authority." (1 Timothy)