Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection September 21, 2025
Sunday – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
21st September 2025 (Sunday)
Psalter: Week 1
Readings of the Day
First Reading: Amos 8:4-7
Hear this, you who trample on the needy and bring the poor of the land to an end, saying, “When will the new moon be over, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may offer wheat for sale, that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great and deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals and sell the chaff of the wheat?” The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their deeds
Psalm 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8 R. (cf. 1a, 7b)
R/. Praise the Lord, who raises the poor from the dust
Second Reading: 1 Timothy 2:1-8
Beloved: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/. Though Jesus Christ was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich
R/. Alleluia
Gospel: Luke 16:1-13
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 in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in 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.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Sunday – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Main Point: One great malaise of the present society is excess craving and attachment to money and employing dishonest means to accumulate it
1. This is the story of a dishonest steward. First of all, we should immediately clarify a couple of things. First, the master’s appreciation of the steward shall not be mistaken as condoning or minimising the gravity of his dishonesty. In the clearest terms, what the master praises is NOT his dishonesty or impropriety. It is only his astuteness, shrewdness, and foresight to procure for future sustenance.
2. Secondly, when the Lord advises to gain friends with corrupt and filthy money, he is not advocating and justifying the spirit of corruption and manipulation with regard to money; neither is he encouraging us to be business-minded to “buy friends” or “promote oneself” or “create good impressions” with manipulative and cunning tactics in regard to money.
3. In fact, the thrust of the parable is the right spirit of a true follower of Christ. Every true disciple must be an honest, responsible, diligent, and faithful steward, always focused on the eternal treasure, and striving to merit and obtain it.
4. God in His mercy and benevolence often entrusts to our care an abundance of material riches. But we should never forget that we are only stewards and not proprietors or owners. Therefore we cannot deal with them dishonestly and manipulatively. Every tendency and act of dishonesty and corruption with regard to material blessings is a grave abomination that is detestable to the Master.
5. We must conduct all our material affairs with constant and unfailing attention and focus on the eternal destiny and reward. What the Lord expects from us is total trustworthiness, and in this, there is no distinction between a small thing or a big thing, a small act of dishonesty, or a big act of dishonesty.
6. There are no concessions or compromises or justifications or leniencies. This must be very clear especially to those who deal with huge amounts or enterprises, because unfortunately today, “a certain percentage-wise manipulation and swallowing is thought to be justifiable and implicitly allowed”. Such a compromising and legitimising attitude is very dangerous and corrodes the very authenticity of discipleship.
7. The Lord is always crystal clear, and it is often the corrupt and devious minds that pretend to be confused and confuse others. The Lord uncompromisingly demands honesty and fidelity both in small and big things irrespectively.
8. In fact, he attests that fidelity in smaller things indicates and proves fidelity in greater things. The simplest logic is: if one is not faithful in smaller, transient, temporal things, how can one claim to be faithful in bigger, lasting, and eternal treasures? And how can God trustingly entrust such higher things?
9. Further, the Lord absolutely rules out any compromise that conveniently accommodates both the spiritual and unspiritual, both the material manipulation and the eternal authenticity, both God and money. He declares in no mincing terms: You cannot serve both God and wealth. How foolish and distorted are those who try to “put together in the same socket” both the spiritual veracity and material dishonesty!
10. Besides, the Lord places before us a clear route map for the right use of money. Money is never for its sake. Money should not be a means and tool for doing the wrong, for covering up or justifying the wrong done, for intimidating or dominating others, for buying power and position, or for manipulating human relationships.
11. Rather material prosperity and resources must be a happy and ready instrument and arm for doing good, for manifesting and enhancing benevolence, for alleviating the pain and plight of the needy.
12. Thus, in the light of the word of God, it is a call to be a good steward. A good steward is one who is just and fair toward others, especially toward the poor and needy. He does not deceive or manipulate others (in the light of the first reading). He is one who does “lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way; good and pleasing in the sight of God our Saviour,… lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling” (in the light of the second reading).
My Practice: Blessed are those disciples who constantly strive to be faithful stewards, with focus and assiduity!
