25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 21, 2025
We have to choose between the values of Jesus and the values of the world
Luke 16: 1–13
Then he also said to his disciples, “A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property.
He summoned him and said, ‘What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.’
The steward said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.’
He called in his master’s debtors one by one. To the first he said, ‘How much do you owe my master?’
He replied, ‘One hundred measures of olive oil.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.’
Then to another he said, ‘And you, how much do you owe?’ He replied, ‘One hundred kors of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.’
And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.
“For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.
I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.
The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.
If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth?
If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Preparation / Centering
If done in a group setting, the prompts are read aloud by the leader; otherwise a silent meditation.
Adapted from Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2025
Presence of God:
Jesus, As I come to you today, fill my heart, my whole being, with the wonder of your sacred presence. Help me to become more aware of your presence in my life, and more receptive to that presence. I desire to love you as you love me. May nothing ever separate me from you.
[1-2 minutes of silence]
Freedom:
Jesus, Grant me the grace to have freedom of spirit. Keep me from being bound by desires and actions that are not good for me or others. Cleanse my heart and soul that I may live joyously in your love..
[1-2 minutes of silence]
Consciousness:
Where am I with God? With others in my life? What am I grateful for? Is there something I am sorry for, words or actions that have hurt others, and which I now regret? I take a moment to ask forgiveness of God and of those whom I have hurt. God, I give you thanks for your constant love and care for me. Keep me always aware of your presence in my life.
[2-3 minutes of silence]
Opening Prayer
Dear Lord, open our eyes to the ways of the world that frequently entice us to act in our own interests and not in the interest of the common good or the interest of another individual. Help us to know what to do when life gets difficult . We pray that you will guide us the next time it does.
Companions for the Journey
From “First Impressions”, 2025, a service of the southern Dominican Province:
No parable is an easy read. At first glance, some of them seem simple enough – but then their meaning slowly seeps into us. Sometimes, with a sudden shock of awareness, we realize we must reevaluate our lives. Today’s parable brings extra complications both for the preacher and for those who will hear it proclaimed this Sunday. The difficulties appear quickly. What exactly was the steward’s “squandering” of the master’s property? Why would the rich man praise him for actions that seem dishonest and self-serving? Is the parable really suggesting we imitate a conniving man who acts only to save his neck?
Today’s gospel has two segments: the parable itself (vv. 1–8a) and the sayings that follow (vv. 8B–13), both tied together by the theme of money. To keep the focus clear, I would suggest preaching on just one section, not both. Let the other wait until it comes around again in the Lectionary.
The parable is the main feature, so let us focus there. The steward has been caught. We do not know his exact offense, but he has been accused of “squandering” his master’s property. He is in trouble and must act quickly and decisively. And he does: he reduces the debts owed to his master. But isn’t that dishonest too? How can he be praised for it? This gospel passage has long been a challenge for readers and interpreters of scripture.
One possibility is that the steward had been charging excessive interest, hoping to make a personal profit. By reducing the debts, he may have been eliminating his own dishonest gain. Since usury was forbidden by Jewish law, he would, in fact, be returning to proper practice as an observant Jew. Or perhaps he was simply cutting out his rightful commission. In either case, his action looks shrewd. That may explain why the following sayings (vv. 8B–13) were linked to the parable. The first is particularly fitting: “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” The steward acted decisively in a moment of crisis – and that is what earns him praise.
Jesus may be pointing to another kind of urgency for his followers. As he continues toward Jerusalem, where he will suffer and die, what will they do in that crisis? Will they remain “children of light,” with the wisdom to keep choosing Jesus and his way? Or will they become “children of the world,” opting for the quick fix and the easy escape? The same question is asked of us. What will we do when crises come—as they already have, and surely will again? We hope we will be prudent stewards, taking stock of the situation and turning once more toward the light. That is something to pray for at this Eucharist: a prayer of gratitude for times when God guided us well, and a prayer of hope that God will guide us the next time. “Help us to act prudently, O God.”
The parable also invites us to examine our use of material possessions. One of Luke’s central themes is Jesus’ suspicion of wealth. Material things can trap us and distract us from what truly matters. We have seen families divided over inheritances; marriages ruined by obsession with business; wars fought over land and resources; lives destroyed by the relentless pursuit of the “bottom line.”
And yet Jesus says we can “make friends with dishonest wealth.” In Luke’s gospel, some wealthy people use their possessions wisely in God’s service. The woman who anointed Jesus with costly ointment (7:36ff) and Zacchaeus, who gave half his goods to the poor (19:18), are examples of “children of light” using resources faithfully.
Many people, then and now, have learned how to use their possessions to serve God. Moved by teachings like today’s gospel, they act quickly and decisively when needs arise. Not all give everything away – though some do – but they refuse to let “mammon” rule their lives. For example: business leaders who fund training for the unemployed so they can support their families; volunteers who help the elderly manage finances for health care; lawyers who take cases for the poor without charge; teachers who stay after school to help struggling students. These are people who recognize resources as gifts to be used under the guidance of Jesus’ light.
If we spend too much time untangling the cultural details of this parable, we risk missing its force. Jesus is pressing us about our fundamental loyalties. Who or what comes first in our lives? If, after honest reflection, we see ourselves living more as “children of this world” than as “children of the light,” then the parable becomes an urgent call to set things right – and to do so quickly. Put plainly: God’s business, and only God’s, must come first.
The prophet Amos reinforces this message. He condemns those who profit at the expense of the poor. As citizens of the developed world, we often enjoy comforts made possible by low wages and unjust practices abroad. Our inexpensive clothing, for example, may be produced in sweatshops. Both Amos and Luke remind us that God sides with the poor. Jesus even labels wealth itself “dishonest,” questioning how we obtain it and at what cost to others.
The truth is that what we possess is not entirely our own; it has been entrusted to us. We are responsible for using the goods of this earth, and even the fruits of our labor, in ways that benefit the larger community—our families, parishes, nation, and the world. The parable should unsettle us if most of our energy is spent securing our own material future rather than seeking what matters to God.
So the questions remain: What can we do to make the world a better place? How can we help the poor? To whom must we show forgiveness and compassion? How might we deepen our relationships? In short: how will we live as children of light in a world that measures worth by wealth, power, and influence?
Weekly Memorization
Taken from the gospel for today’s session…
The person who is untrustworthy in very small matters is also untrustworthy in great ones
Living the Good News
What action can you take in the next week as a response to today’s reading and discussion?
Keep a private journal of your prayer/actions responses this week. Feel free to use the personal reflection questions or the meditations which follow:
Reflection Questions
- Some of Jesus’ teachings are difficult to hear and difficult to understand. How do I react when I come across a difficult passage in scripture?
Do I take it absolutely literally, no matter the obvious impracticality?
Do I try to manipulate the meaning so it is easier for me to swallow?
Is there a third way? - Who are children of the world and what are their values?
Who are children of the light, and what are their values?
Which is harder to live by? - Like the steward in the parable, when we face a crisis we often have a choice between the way of the world and the way of the light. Has this ever happened to me?
What did I choose? - What do I mean by the word “shrewd”?
Is shrewdness a good thing? - Do I only focus on those in our society who have more than I do, and has this caused resentment or a carelessness with goods belonging to others?
- We are all stewards of the resources we have been given. Have I used my resources wisely, for others as well as myself and mine?
- Have I truly been careful with someone else’s property?
Have I ever borrowed something and never quite remembered to give it back? - Do I give to those who have less, or do I hoard gifts and goods for myself and mine?
- I am also a steward of the earth. What have I done to protect and preserve this planet and all creatures in it?
- Like the steward with his master, do I take stock of where I stand with God?
- Has honesty been perverted in our society?
Are there individuals and companies who engage in dishonest practices for personal gain?
Are there people or businesses which trample the needy with their business practices?
What is my response? - What about the role of honesty in our political discourse?
- Do we speak of “little white lies” as if they were not lies at all?
Have I ever played fast and loose with the truth to get what I wanted?
Have I ever played fast and loose with the truth at the expense of someone else? - From “First Impressions”, a service of the Southern Dominican Province:
Have I used any of my resources in the mission of Jesus and the Gospel?
Has my focus and worries about possessions distracted me from the presence of God in my life?
Meditations
A Meditation in the Dominican Style/Asking Questions:
This parable about the dishonest steward is not just a story for Jesus’ time. It was a parabolic message to his disciples about the choices they were going to have to make about carrying on the work of Jesus after his death. They were going to be the stewards of the Kingdom. It is also a lesson for us. We are each either honest stewards or dishonest stewards of the world that has been entrusted to us by God.
Like the steward with his master, do I take stock of where I stand with God?
Have I truly been careful with someone else’s property?
Have I ever borrowed something and never quite remembered to give it back?
I am a steward of a world that does not seem to care for the unfortunate, How have I helped to change that scenario?
I am also a steward of the earth. What have I done to protect and preserve this planet and all creatures in it?
Has honesty been perverted in our society? How honest am I?
Are there individuals and companies who engage in dishonest practices for personal gain? Do I?
What is “dishonesty in little things”? Have I ever been guilty of this?
A Meditation in the Ignatian Style/Imagination:
Imagine yourself as the person who fell afoul of the boss and got dismissed. You do not have any particular talents. What will you do to support yourself? Might it be smart to go to the various vendors of the company you work for and try to strike a deal? To what lengths would you be willing to go to gain new employment? (Would you take a list of clients with you, or take some information that might be proprietary but would help you get ahead in the new company? Would you take a few key employees and set yourself up as a competitor?) To what extent are you careful of another’s property? Ever cheat on an exam? Copy someone’s problem set? Tell the teacher the dog ate your homework? How about copyright laws—did you ever make a copy of a song, a presentation, a speech owned by someone else? Make a copy from a book without the writer’s permission? Where do we draw the line for personal integrity? Is it somewhat fluid? Are there any areas in your life that you need to examine in this regard?
A Meditation in the Augustinian Style/Relationship:
Psalms are very personal conversations with one’s God. The people of Israel were not hesitant to complain to God about the unfairness of the world and their anger and despair over the treachery of others. These psalms of lament are among the most honest prayers in scripture. Read Psalm 12 and then compose your own psalm about the economic world we inhabit, and what is valued in our society.
Psalm 12
Save me, O LORD, for the holy ones are no more; the faithful have vanished from the sons of men. They babble vanities, one to another, with cunning lips, with divided heart. May the LORD destroy all cunning lips, the tongue that utters boastful words, those who say, “We prevail with our tongue; our lips are our own, who is our master?” “For the poor who are oppressed and the needy who groan, now will I arise,” says the LORD; “I will grant them the salvation for which they long.” The words of the LORD are words without alloy, silver from the furnace, seven times refined. It is you, O LORD, who will keep us safe, and protect us forever from this generation. The wicked prowl on every side, while baseness is exalted by the sons of men.
Poetic Reflection:
We will look at Mary Oliver’s poem, “Messenger”, again this week, through a slightly different lens. For Mary Oliver, what seems to be the values to live by? What really matters in this life? What is the role of gratitude in becoming “children of the light” as opposed to “children of the age”?
“Messenger”
My work is loving the world.
Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird—
equal seekers of sweetness.
Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.
Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?
Am I no longer young, and still half-perfect? Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.
The phoebe, the delphinium.
The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.
Which is mostly rejoicing, since all the ingredients are here,which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart
and these body-clothes,
a mouth with which to give shouts of joy
to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,
telling them all, over and over, how it is
that we live forever.
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord, help me always to choose to act with integrity. Help me to see that if something is a little bit wrong, it is still wrong. Period. Help me to have courage when I feel desperate or trapped in a situation, whether that situation is of my own making or the result of circumstances beyond my control. Help me to keep you as a lodestar in all that I do.