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25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (C)

September 21, 2025

Fr. John Colacino C.PP.S.

Introit

Collect

O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law
upon love of you and of our neighbor,
grant that, by keeping your precepts,
we may merit to attain eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Reading Am 8:4-7

Hear this, you that trample on the needy, and bring to ruin the poor of the land, 5 saying, “When will the new moon be over so that we may sell grain; and the sabbath, so that we may offer wheat for sale? We will measure out less and charge more, and tamper with the scales, 6 buying the poor for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, and selling the sweepings of the wheat.” 7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob: “Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.”

Responsorial Psalm. Ps 113:1-2, 4-6, 7-8

Second Reading 1 Tm 2:1-8

My dearly beloved, 1 I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave himself a ransom for all; this was attested at the right time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle, a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I am telling the truth, I am not lying.

Acclamation before the Gospel cf. 2 Cor 8:9

Gospel Lk 16:10-13

“Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much; and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful with the dishonest wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful with what belongs to another, who will give you what is your own? 13 “No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

Catena Nova

“A servant cannot serve two masters.” Not that there are two, there is only one Master. For even if there are some people who serve money, it has no inherent right to be a master, they themselves are the ones, who assume the yoke of this slavery…. Riches are alien to us because they exist outside of our nature, they are not born with us, they do not follow us in death. But Christ, to the contrary, belongs to us because He is life… So don’t let us become slaves of exterior goods because Christ is the only one we should acknowledge as our Lord. (St. Ambrose of Milan)

We have been entrusted with the administration of our Lord’s property to use what we need with thanksgiving, and to distribute the rest among our fellow servants according to the needs of each one. We must not squander the wealth entrusted to us, nor use it on superfluities, for when the Lord comes we shall be required to account for our expenditure…. Nothing in this world really belongs to us. We who hope for a future reward are told to live in this world as strangers and pilgrims, so as to be able to say to the Lord without fear of contradiction: “I am a stranger and a pilgrim like all my ancestors.” What believers can regard as their own is that eternal and heavenly possession where our heart is and our treasure, and where intense longing makes us dwell already through faith, for as Saint Paul teaches, “Our homeland is in heaven.” (Gaudentius of Brescia)

I rose up at the dawn of day--

“Get thee away! get thee away!

Pray'st thou for riches? Away! away!

This is the Throne of Mammon grey.”

Said I: This, sure, is very odd;

I took it to be the Throne of God

For everything besides I have:

It is only for riches that I can crave

I have mental joy, and mental health

And mental friends, and mental wealth;

I've a wife I love, and that loves me;

I've all but riches bodily

I am in God's presence night and day

And He never turns His face away;

The accuser of sins by my side doth stand

And he holds my money-bag in his hand

For my worldly things God makes him pay

And he'd pay for more if to him I would pray;

And so you may do the worst you can do;

Be assur'd, Mr. Devil, I won't pray to you

Then if for riches I must not pray

God knows, I little of prayers need say;

So, as a church is known by its steeple

If I pray it must be for other people

He says, if I do not worship him for a God

I shall eat coarser food, and go worse shod;

So, as I don't value such things as these

You must do, Mr. Devil, just as God please (William Blake)

The avaricious man of our day, be he landlord, merchant, industrialist, does not adore sacks of coins or bundles of banknotes in some little chapel and upon some little altar. He does not kneel before these spoils of other men, nor does he address prayers or canticles to them amidst odorous clouds of incense. But he proclaims that money is the only good, and he yields it all his soul. A cult sincere, without hypocrisy, never growing weary, never forsworn. Whenever he says, in the debasement of his heart and his speech, that he loves money for the delights it can purchase, he lies or he terribly deceives himself, this very assertion being belied at the very moment he utters it by every one of his acts, by the infinite toil and pains to which he gladly condemns himself in order to acquire or conserve that money which is but the visible figure of the Blood of Christ circulating throughout all His members. (Leon Bloy)

In the Abrahamic religions, God is again and again praised as the “eternally rich One” who holds the fullness of life in both hands. Paradoxically, the way to this richness leads through poverty. Possessions, privileges, and power, all basic institutions of common life, are ever abolished anew in this attempt to come naked before God, without covering and defenses in the vulnerability that every love creates. Love, every love, renders one naked. (Dorothee Soelle)

Total poverty is more than this. [“having no more than, and being able to call on no more than, the poorest worker”]. It is poverty of Spirit which you, Lord Jesus, said was blessed. that makes every - absolutely every - material thing a matter of complete indifference, so that we can brush everything aside, break with everything … This is the poverty that leaves no attachments at all to temporal things, but completely empties the heart, leaving it whole and entirely free fro God alone. God then refilled it with himself, reigning in it alone, filling it wholly with himself, and putting into it - though not for itself, but for himself, for his own sake - love for all men, his children. The heart then knows nothing and holds nothing but these two loves. Nothing else exists for it any longer, and it lives on earth as though it were not there, and in continuous contemplation of the only real necessity, the only Being, and in intercession for those whom the Heart of God longs to love. (St. Charles de Foucauld)

Today more than ever, we must make this question our own as a principle of reconciliation. Once internalized, it will resonate in this way: “Brother, sister, where are you?” Where are you in the “business” of wars that shatter the lives of young people forced to take up arms; target defenseless civilians, children, women and elderly people; devastate cities, the countryside and entire ecosystems, leaving only rubble and pain in their wake? Brother, sister, where are you among the migrants who are despised, imprisoned and rejected, among those who seek salvation and hope but find walls and indifference? Where are you, brother, sister, when the poor are blamed for their poverty, forgotten and discarded, in a world that values profit more than people? Brother, sister, where are you in a hyper-connected life where loneliness corrodes social bonds and makes us strangers even to ourselves? (Pope Leo XIV)

Homily

Virtue lies in the Golden Mean. So said Aristotle. Overdoing or under-doing something virtuous soon becomes a vice. The philosopher also gave us the four “cardinal virtues” — namely, justice, temperance, fortitude and prudence. Every other virtue, he thought, hinged on just those four. Justice gives everyone their due so that right relationships are maintained in one’s personal life and in society. Giving too little from stinginess or too much from extravagance violates the mean. Fortitude requires courage in the face of adversity where recklessness and cowardice run to the extremes. And temperance seeks moderation in things we enjoy, which is why a wedding reception may call for a toast but never “one for the road.”

Then there’s prudence — which some consider the master virtue. Adding their voices to Aristotle’s, St. Augustine defined prudence as knowing what to seek and what to avoid while St. Thomas Aquinas called prudence “right reason applied to action” (ST II II, 47. 8). Prudence then leads you to make the right choice in a given situation and lies somewhere between the extremes of excessive caution and of rash judgment.

At the moment, the nation is facing some pretty heavy prudential decisions with pretty serious ramifications. State and local officials are facing prudent courses of action in face of threats of military occupation by the federal government and draconian enforcement of immigration law. The Chair of the Federal Reserve has to judge a prudent course of action in dealing with a sagging economy, inflation and rising unemployment. Imprudent online speech is responsible for much of the polarization and violence in this country even while its expression is threatened. On the international front NATO allies face questions about the prudent way to deal with Russia’s aggression with all the dire consequences missteps could bring about.

Yet Christians realize how human prudence easily degenerates into mere self-interest. We also understand how human virtues like prudence require the assistance of divine grace. When we sail under our own power something is likely to run aground on the shoals of fallen human nature. Carmelite author, Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene, alerts us to the problem:

In order that our judgments and choices be prudent, we must know how to free them from elements which are too subjective, such as our personal attractions and interests, our natural likes and dislikes. Sometimes we can deceive ourselves into thinking we are judging situations or deciding to do something solely for the glory of God or for the good of our neighbor, when, in fact, if we examined ourselves thoroughly, we would perhaps see that the motives that prevailed in our judgment or in our deliberations were egotistic and dictated by our own personal interests. Hence, even, prudence requires that we cleanse our heart from all these human motives, and that we practice detachment and renunciation. (Divine Intimacy, n. 274)

Hence, worldly prudence — the stuff of political calculation — needs a spiritual counterpart enlightened by faith and elevated by the Holy Spirit. A Dominican priest speaking from the Thomist tradition puts it this way, “Christian prudence is ever at odds with the wisdom of the world. For example, it does not judge things solely by the satisfactions or pleasures they afford, nor the material gains they bring. [For] Christian prudence also sees things in the light of faith. And it makes sure they do not obscure or lead away from our eternal goal. It is ever mindful of the question asked by St. Bernard….: ‘What is the value of this for eternity? ’” (Paul A. Duffner; https://www.rosary-center.org/ll51n2.htm).

Which brings me to that manager in one of Jesus' parables who won praise from his wealthy boss for dealing with a little matter of dishonesty by cheating his boss even more. The parable ends with the remarkable statement: The master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently (G). Really? I don’t think Aristotle would approve! And then Jesus goes and adds his praise: For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light! (G). Not sure Augustine or Thomas would approve there either! But is that the point? For while it may sound like Jesus is condoning theft, the interpretation Luke provides sends us in another direction.

For yes, Christians ought to have some smarts when it comes to handling their earthly affairs, just as their unbelieving counterparts do -- even when that involves us in the messiness of the world, with all its dishonest wealth (G). But it’s where Luke ends up that really matters: the gospel never lets us forget how earthly affairs – even the most urgent – must be seen with that bigger picture St. Bernard mentions in mind — one that opens onto eternity, onto the realm of God. That’s why Jesus warns that earthly wealth and power – Mammon -- even when used prudently — so often fail us, and all that ultimately matters is what will secure our welcome into eternal dwellings (cf. G).

And few others have understood this better than the martyrs. Last Sunday — feast of the Holy Cross - Pope Leo presided over an ecumenical commemoration of the martyrs and witnesses of the faith of the 21st century in the Basilica of St. Paul outside the Walls. During his homily, he said,

Many brothers and sisters, even today, carry the same cross as our Lord on account of their witness to the faith in difficult situations and hostile contexts: like him, they are persecuted, condemned and killed…. They are women and men, religious, lay people and priests, who pay with their lives for their fidelity to the Gospel, their commitment to justice, their battle for religious freedom where it is still being violated, and their solidarity with the most disadvantaged….their martyrdom continues to spread the Gospel in a world marked by hatred, violence and war; it is a hope filled with immortality because, even though they have been killed in body, no one can silence their voice or erase the love they have shown; it is a hope filled with immortality because their witness lives on as a prophecy of the victory of good over evil….They bore witness to their faith without ever using the weapons of force and violence, but rather by embracing the hidden and meek power of the Gospel.

So in these days when decisions — personal and political — are made about matters of good and evil, life and death, time and eternity, God and Mammon -- we need more than ever the prudence of the martyrs who understood what the right course of action was in their resistance to evil. And when our faith commitments do not match up with the policies and programs of politicians we believe are opposed to the gospel— and who are threatened by their hostile rhetoric — at the least we need to hear Paul’s admonition to Timothy: First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority that we might lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth (II). Who lives and reigns, forever and ever. Amen.

Intercessions (Joe Milner; The Sunday Web Site)

For the Church: that we may be good stewards of the gifts that God has given us, use them for God’s glory, and never be possessed by our possessions.

For the President and the leaders of all nations: that they may fulfill their obligations faithfully and establish peace and good order in each nation.

For the members of Congress: that God will give them insight and courage as they address the issues of safety, immigration and healthcare.

For governors and all local civil authorities: that God will guide them in promoting the common good, equality for all people, and care for those in need. For the development of ethics and honesty in business: that all who lead companies may be guided by the Spirit in implementing just practices and products that are beneficial.

For employers and employees: that each may fulfill their responsibilities and treat one another with dignity and respect.

For all who are caught in deceit and corruption: that God will free their hearts and open to them the life and wholeness that comes from living in the truth.

For the poor: that God will lift their burden and help them to find ways to meet their needs and prosper. For preservation of water resources: that God will inspire all who are responsible for stewarding water resources to find new ways to protect and preserve the waters that is needed for all human life.

For preservation of water resources: that God will inspire all who are responsible for stewarding water resources to find new ways to protect and preserve the waters that is needed for all human life.

For an end to violence: that the Spirit of God will turn hearts from violence, protect children from harm, and help all to respect the dignity of human life.

God our Saviour, you call us into your service. Make us wise and resourceful: children of the light who continue your work in this world with untiring concern for integrity and justice. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (ICEL; 1998)

Offertory Antiphon

Offertory Hymn

Let streams of living justice flow down upon the earth;
give freedom’s light to captives, let all the poor have worth.
The hungry’s hands are pleading, the workers claim their rights,
The mourner’s long for laughter, the blinded seek for sight.
Make liberty a beacon, strike down the iron pow’r.
Abolish ancient vengeance: proclaim your people’s hour.

For healing of the nations, for peace that will not end,
For love that makes us lovers, God grant us grace to mend.
Weave our varied gifts together; knit our lives as they are spun;
On your loom of time enroll us till our thread of  life is run.
O great weaver of our fabric, bind church and world in one;
Dye our texture with your radiance, light our colors with your sun.

Your city’s built to music; we are the stones you seek;
Your harmony is language; we are the words you speak.
Our faith we find in service, our hope in others’ dreams,
Our love in hand of neighbor, our homeland brightly gleams.
Inscribe our hearts with justice; your way—the path untried;
Your truth—the heart of stranger; your life—the Crucified.

Communion Antiphon

Closing Hymn

Ref. The Lord hears the cry of the poor. Blessed be the Lord.

I will bless the Lord at all times,
with praise ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the Lord,
who will hear the cry of the poor.

Let the lowly hear and be glad:
the Lord listens to their pleas;
and to hearts broken, God is near,
who will hear the cry of the poor.

Ev’ry spirit crushed, God will save;
will be ransom for their lives;
will be safe shelter for their fears,
and will hear the cry of the poor.

We proclaim your greatness, O God,
your praise ever in our mouth;
ev’ry face brightened in your light,
for you hear the cry of the poor.

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