25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2025 - Year C

The following are prayerful resources rather than a liturgy.

Gospel for the day - 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Luke 16:1-13 - ‘You cannot serve God and money.’

At that time: Jesus said to the disciples, ‘There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. And he called him and said to him, “What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.” And the manager said to himself, “What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.” So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, “How much do you owe my master?” He said, “A hundred measures of oil.” He said to him, “Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.” Then he said to another, “And how much do you owe?” He said, “A hundred measures of wheat.” He said to him, “Take your bill and write eighty.” The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.’ And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

‘One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful with the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful with that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.’

This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings.

Having used our prayer resources, you might want simply to reflect yourself on them and how that might flow into your coming week.

Some people have found it very helpful to meet with others and share their thoughts. If you are interested in joining a small group to share your thoughts and feelings about God's Word please email us: cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

In the gospel this week, the steward stands accused of wastefulness for misusing his master's property. Currently, we are in the middle of the Season of Creation and one of the things this parable encourages us to reflect on, is whether the master's property could be God's creation and whether we use our world for our own ends rather than see it as a gift to all.

It is confusing however, that Jesus seems to praise the steward's reaction. Perhaps it is rather that he applauds the steward for responding with zeal; but is indicating to his disciples (and to us) that our focus should be equally zealous but should not be on self- advantage.

Jesus is telling us that when we spend our resources we should be mindful of whether we are acting consistently with his message or whether we are only using the resources for our own benefit at the expense of others and our planet. For example in the present climate emergency some companies are reacting like the steward, by seeking to ensure they can survive, not by changing their ways, but by currying favour and greenwashing. Jesus tells us very clearly that worldly success is not the aim. Choices need to be made and those choices will show tangibly in the way we live.

1. Jesus was praising the steward's zeal but not his choices. How do we as believers show such initiative and zeal in following Jesus' message?

2. Can cheating and deception ever be justified?*

* All second questions © The Pastoral Center

Prayers of Intercession

For all church leaders, especially Pope Leo. May they take inspiration from today's gospel and be examples and channels of the mercy and love of God in our world, in all that they say and do.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer

On the 22nd of September (Monday) the United Nations will resume the high-level international conference for the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine. We pray that the spirit of wisdom and compassion will fill the hearts and minds of those involved and all who have the power to bring about peace and justice.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer

For all who suffer ill heath and starvation because of the global mismanagement of food distribution and climate disruption. May the agencies that truly work for the poor in our world be a blessing to those whom they seek to serve and be blessed for the work they do. May our church community continue to support those agencies.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer

In this Season of Creation we pray for those who are facing droughts, floods and storms: May God grant them strength and hope for the future as they work to adapt to the changing climate. May we hear their desperate cries for help and the urgent cry of the earth. Grant us the wisdom to know how we can make a difference and the courage to follow through.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer

For all who are ill, at home, in hospital or care homes. For those waiting for treatments, test results appointments or an operation date; May they be supported and comforted by our prayers and the love of those who care for them.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer

For all who have died recently and those whose anniversaries occur at this time We remember especially: James Alphonso D’Souza, Joe Callaghan, Michael Boyle, Dorothy Gilhooly, Patrick Boyle, Jack Laing, Jonathan (Jon) Savage.

May they find joy and peace in the arms of our loving God.

Lord, in your mercy ... Hear our prayer

We will now say together the prayer to be missionary disciples.

Cluster prayer

Lord continue to bless our community in this time of transition.

Help us on our journey to grow from a maintenance church to a missionary church.
Give us the courage to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride and prejudice.

Kindle in us the fire of your love that all who come here will find joy, peace and love.

Make this a house of prayer and a gateway to your kingdom.

AMEN

Preparing for next week - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Luke 16:19-31 - ‘You received good things, and Lazarus bad things; now he is comforted here, and your are in anguish.’

At that time: Jesus said to the Pharisees, ‘There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, “Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.” But Abraham said, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not do so, and none may cross from there to us.” And he said, “Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house — for I have five brothers — so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.” And he said, “No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” ’

This is the gospel of the Lord. Commentary on the readings.

Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)

Did you notice that God is not in this parable? Did you notice too that Lazarus does not say a word?

Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees and in some ways the parable is not about the fate of the rich in this world. It is about all those who know and understand the message of the Bible and fail to live it.

There is something of the Pharisee in all of us too if we are honest. We know what Jesus asks of us - in particular to be the voice of the voiceless: the voiceless such as Lazarus.

If we are to be part of the Kingdom of Heaven we need to be light, to be salt, to be a voice that challenges the hellish divisions of all kinds in our world. The devil has often been called the Divider who wishes to pit God against humanity and sow divisions among people themselves.

Abraham says if they won't believe Moses and the prophets then they won't believe someone coming back from the dead.

We have something the Pharisees did not have: the Resurrection. What better reason for us to try to heal divisions in our communities, our country, our world?

1. Recall a time when you spoke up for (or failed to speak up for) a person who could not defend themselves from an injustice done to them.

2. What are the "rewards" of caring for the needs of the poor?*