1st Reading: (Amos 8:4-7)
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 113: 1-2.4-6.7-5 (R. see 1a, 7a)
2nd Reading: (1Timothy 2: 1–8)
Gospel Reading: (Luke 16: 1-13)
Rosemary Ibazebo
I remember that whenever I go through this passage, I do get somehow confused on why or how the master would praise the dishonest/shrewd servant.
Some translations refer to the servant as 'Shrewd'. To be shrewd is to have or show sharp powers of judgement. This was what the servant showed.
But
Jesus said - 'The sons of this world are wiser in their own generation than the sons of light. So, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails, they may receive you into eternal habitations'.
So, the sons of this world being wiser than the sons of light show how shrewd they can be in making a way out for themselves....what length they are willing to go through just to get what they want.
However, we that are sons of light, how much effort do we put in our kingdom journey? What lengths are we willing to go, all for the sake of Christ? Am I using my money for the good of God's kingdom or for something else?
I am reminded of the heavy rain that fell on Tuesday and how I still had to enter the rain and flooded street to get to work. And I thought, 'If this was a Sunday, would I go through this inconvenience to go for mass, or I would just see it as a perfect excuse not to go for mass, meanwhile, I cannot give that excuse at work?
We need to wake up.
Glory to Jesus!
The Devil is working so hard so there is a need for us to pray.
Let us pray and make supplications for ourselves and our religious and political leaders.
St Paul summons us to pray lifting holy hands without anger or quarrelling.
Why is there so much bitterness amongst us even amongst our priests and men of God.
Our love of the world has taken us away from God and the smoke of the evil one has entered the house of God.
Today St Paul calls us to retrace our steps with proper devotion because we cannot serve two masters.
We twist the word of God for material gains.
Prosperity gospel is now the order of the day.
Our love for wealth has taken away from the truth.
So there is so much fighting so much quarrelling so much bickering because we have sold the truth for money.
with prayers and supplications let us return to the truth.
Christ is the truth.
We pray God helps us to be sincere in our worship.
Ave.
Here is my reflection/sharing y for the reading from Amos 8:4–7:
This reading is a strong reminder that God sees injustice, especially when it is done to the poor and the vulnerable. The people Amos condemns were exploiting others using dishonest measures, cheating is a trade, and treating human beings as if they were items to be bought and sold.
Today, this message challenges us to reflect on our own dealings:
• Do we act with fairness and honesty in our work, business, or relationships?
• Do we value people more than profit or convenience?
• Are we sensitive to the struggles of the poor, or do we take advantage of them knowingly or unknowingly?
God assures us that He will not forget these deeds. This is both a warning and a call to repentance. But it is also an invitation to live differently, to treat others with dignity, to act justly, and to remember that every person is precious before God
Chrismarie Obi
REFLECTION
First Reading: Amos 8:4-7
“The Lord God spoke against those who buy the poor for silver.”
In this passage, the prophet Amos exposes the injustice and exploitation of the poor by the wealthy. Too often, the less privileged are spoken of with contempt, as if poverty were a curse or a sign of failure. The rich may even distance themselves from the poor, forgetting that dignity and worth are not measured by material possessions.
But this is not the way of the Lord. God honours the poor and defends their cause. He solemnly declares that He will not forget the unjust deeds committed against them.
Dear fellow pilgrims, let us treat one another with love and respect, regardless of status. Whether rich or poor, we are equal before our Creator who loves us all. If you are blessed with wealth, let kindness guide your actions. If you struggle with little, take heart—God sees you, values you, and loves you as you are.
As we come together this Sunday, the scriptures remind us to think about justice, prayer, and being responsible with what we have. Each passage gives us special lessons to help us look at our own lives and duties as we respond to God's call.
In the eighth century before Christ, Israel was rich, but this wealth was held by a few, leaving many poor people suffering. The lavish lifestyles of the wealthy were a disgrace to those in need. God spoke through the Prophet Amos, a shepherd from a small village. He went to Israel and spoke out against the unfair treatment of the poor. He warned that God would punish those who took advantage of others. Amos’s message reminds us to consider how our choices affect people in need. We should ask ourselves: Are we part of systems that harm the poor? Do we work for justice in our communities?
The second reading shifts our focus to the power of prayer and the need to pray for everyone, especially leaders. Paul encourages Timothy, and us too, to live with devotion and to pray for peace and goodness. This reminds us that we have a duty to pray not just for ourselves but also for others, including our leaders, so they can govern wisely and justly. Through our prayers for peace, we share God’s grace and kindness in a world filled with conflict. We should develop hearts of compassion since the state of our world is connected to our spiritual practices.
In Luke 16:1-13, Jesus tells the Parable of the Unjust Steward. This story makes us think about how we manage the resources we have. The steward’s cleverness in a tough situation encourages us to be thoughtful about how we use our gifts, both material and spiritual. Jesus stresses that being faithful in small matters can lead to greater responsibilities. As we think about this story, we should consider our priorities: Are we focused on lasting values or just temporary pleasures? How are we using our time, talents, and money for good?
Together, these readings challenge us to live out justice, prayer, and responsibility every day. Our faith should show in our actions—how we treat others, how we pray, and how we use what we have.
If you have been unfair to the poor, the orphans, or widows, this message is for you. Listen closely.
As we go through this week, let’s promise to live with justice, to pray for others, and to be wise stewards of our resources. May we be inspired to make a positive change in our communities, grounded in prayer, and reflecting Christ’s love and goodness in everything we do. Amen.
Paddy Kevwe
WHAT MAKES YOU RICH?
We live in a world where many will give you respect, love, attention and opportunity if you have money, if you are rich in money. If you do not have this or that, then you are practically on your own. Even in the book of Proverbs 19:7 says "Even the family of the poor avoids him, and his friends stay far away from him." So you Can see the reality on ground. Because a man do not have money he may be considered as nothing.
It is a much more reason you see people doing everything possible to make this money so that they can gain relevance in the society. Many Politicians never consider their conscience when they embezzle public funds that is even meant for the people especially the poor among them. Instead they rather continue to steal more and more money, so that when they talk it is not them really talking but the money, and when they appear it is not their presence that is felt but the money they have.
Whenever I look at most parents these days, I weep, because they were supposed to at least be the conscience of their children especially in their conduct. But instead they are the ones encouraging the children to do whatsoever they can to get rich not minding the source. A member of the Confraternity of Catholic Christian Mothers is encouraging her son to go into fraud (yahoo) without him knowing fully well what is involved. It is like someone going into or joining a SECRET CÛLT without knowing the SECRET OF THE CÜLT, he will end up in misery, pain and regrets.
Today is the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C and we are meant to focus on what makes us rich.
In the first reading the Rich in the society became rich in the defrauding of the people and especially the poor and needy. For them they feel on top of the world but in God's sight they are as nothing, they are people doomed for destruction because of their greed.
What about COVID-19 in 2020 where those in power and authority hijacked the palliatives provided by the government for the people. Some stocked these palliatives in their warehouse so they can sell them afterwards. One even kept them so he can share them to the people during his forthcoming birthday, so that the people will love him the more.
You see that we are not different from the people in Amos' time.
The people in Amos' time became rich by shortchanging the poor for their own selfish benefits. They capitalized on any given misfortune in order to get something from them. And this is not limited or restricted to those in government or politics but even in our religious parlance.
If what we have cannot be used for the benefit of others then we as poor as the poor. And if all that we are rich in is in money, they we are poor.
We are poor if money is the only thing that we rich in. Jesus in the gospel teaches us how "The master commended the dishonest steward for his prudence; for the sons of this world are wiser in their own generation than the sons of light." How are they wiser than the sons of the light? Jesus says further and recommended that we should "make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous mammon, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal habitations."
In whatever you have, learn to use it to build up people than just build up only your bank accounts. If you use all you got to acquire estate, properties, cars and jet, I tell you solemnly that you will realize how poor you are by the time when you need the help of men, and by then all your estates, properties, cars and jet will not be there to do the needful.
As such, we must be rich in men and women of this world. So that when we are in a situation where we need help, these people can show up for us.
You do not have to defraud the poor in order to get rich in money rather you can help them grow and tomorrow when you are in need, you too can receive gladly their help. Because as the psalmist says we should: "Praise the Lord, who raises the poor from the dust."
For From the dust he lifts up the lowly,
from the ash heap he raises the poor,
to set them in the company of princes,
yes, with the princes of his people.
And so, the poor you neglected today may turn out to be something good you never imagined tomorrow.
The greatest deception is to ever think that in all you do especially in secret is known to you alone. We must know that God who knows all things is seeing us and that is seen in the first and gospel reading. The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.” And in the gospel, the master of the steward got to know what the dishonest steward was doing.
God is seeing all we do, so do not think you are smart, you and I can hide it from men but not from God.
So why not be rich in God and in men, so that with what you have got, you can advance the purpose of the kingdom of God, for God desires that all men be saved.
Finally, let us be rich in not just in money but in men. The true wealth of any man is not in his riches in material things but in humans. For Jesus though he was rich became poor that we might be rich for God desires that all men may be saved for his kingdom.
And So when next someone asks you WHAT MAKES YOU RICH, make sure your answer aligns to BEING RICH IN MEN. That what makes me rich is in the number of lives I have touched and imparted.
Let us pray:
Lord God, help us to be people who are sensitive to the poor and building men and women instead of fat bank accounts and then grant us the grace to use all you have given us to benefit others too. We may our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
#Shalom
No comments:
Post a Comment