DAILY- HOMILY

September 22, 2013

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year C

Am 8:4-7 / Ps 113: 1-2. 4-6. 7-8 / 1 Tim 2:1-8 / Lk 16:1-13

Amos 8:4-7

Hear this, you who trample on the needy to do away with the weak of the land. You who say, "When will the new moon or the sabbath feast be over that we may open the store and sell our grain? Let us lower the measure and raise the price; let us cheat and tamper with the scales, and even sell the refuse with the whole grain. We will buy up the poor for money and the needy for a pair of sandals." Yahweh, the pride of Jacob, has sworn by himself, "I shall never forget their deeds."

1 Timothy 2:1-8

First of all I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanks giving be made for everyone, for rulers of states and all in authority, that we may enjoy a quiet and peaceful life in godliness and respect. This is good and pleases God. For he wants all to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth. As there is one God, there is one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave his life for the redemption of all. This is the testimony, given in its proper time, and of this, God has made me apostle and herald. I am not lying, I am telling the truth: He made me teacher of the nations regarding faith and truth. I want the men in every place to lift pure hands in prayer to heaven without anger and dissension.

Luke 16:1-13

At another time Jesus told his disciples, "There was a rich man, whose steward was reported to him for fraudulent service. He summoned the steward and asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? I want you to render an account of your service, for it is about to be terminated.' The steward thought to himself, 'What am I to do now? My master will surely dismiss me. I am not strong enough to do hard work, and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I will do: I must make sure that when I am dismissed, there will be people who will welcome me into their homes.' So he called his master's debtors, one by one. He asked the first debtor, 'How much do you owe my master?' The reply was, 'A hundred jars of oil.' The steward said, 'Here is your bill. Sit down quickly and write fifty.' To the second debtor he put the same question, 'How much do you owe?' The answer was, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' Then the said: 'Take your bill and write eighty.' The master commended the dishonest steward for his astuteness: for the people of this world are more astute, in dealing with their own kind, than are the people of light. And so I tell you: use filthy money to make friends for yourselves, so that, when it fails, these people may welcome you into the eternal homes. Whoever can be trusted in little things can also be trusted in great ones; whoever is dishonest in slight matters will also be dishonest in greater ones. So if you have been dishonest in handling filthy money, who would entrust you with true wealth? And if you have been dishonest with things that are not really yours, who will give you that wealth which is truly your own? No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not like the one and is fond of the other, or he regards one highly and the other with contempt. You cannot give yourself both to God and to Money."

Reflection

In the gospel reading, Jesus teaches us lessons in life management. No matter how much or how little we may have in ability, opportunity, or wealth, we can manage our life in such a way as to be really rich.

Life management is a principle that has to do with living life in such a way as to one day hear the Father say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you will be in authority over much." Successful living then demands that we know and keep the laws of life management.

There are three laws of life management. First: Do your best with what you have. It does not matter in God's eyes how much you have, but how well you handle it. A poor widow is lauded by our Lord for her gift of less than a penny. The Bible commands: "Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all for the glory of God."

Second: What we manage is not ours. A man once admitted that by stealing, he acquired every square inch of his house at someone else's expense. His actions parallel the spiritually crippled behavior of many men and women who day by day, appropriate the things of God, His air, sunshine, and food. They take everything God gives and use them for selfish purposes. They take from God and give nothing to Him in return. All of us are God's stewards, handling for a while the things He has given us. As Christians, we have accepted the fact that He is our loving Master, and we will give an accounting to Him. Life management is to do our best with what we have. It is to know that what we manage is not ours but God's.

Third: The Bible tells us that when we die, we shall carry nothing away. Successful life management is a matter of exchanging a life we cannot keep for a life we cannot lose. It is trading the temporary goods of this world for unending, secure treasure. No matter how much or how little we may have in ability, opportunity, or wealth, we can manage our life in such a way as to be really rich in God's sight.

Prayer Requests

We pray …

… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.

… for the speedy recovery and healing of

Benny, Herb, Nick (MD), Ed, Bob M, Randy, Denise (TX), Debbie (AZ), Mrs D

Brenda

Joy Droke

… for the personal intentions of

Mary Wong

Ben, Nancy, Rita P, Netta, Mary Ann M, Joan's son, Bob F & Fr Larry

Lavanya

… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.

Birthday: Micah M. Del Carmen

Birthday: Anthony Chua

Birthday: Maria Rosabel Nazal Kaw

… for families who are in need of healing

… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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