Twenty-Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time
Serving God, Not Wealth
Other Celebrations for this Day:
Liturgical Cycle: C | Lectionary Cycle: I
Introduction
I Have Entrusted Much to You
God or Mammon
For today’s well-known and often confusing parable of the unjust steward, we cannot consider satisfactory a widespread commentary that says, “Jesus praises the steward for his slyness, not for his dishonesty,” especially if the man is deemed to act dishonestly, cancelling or reducing debts at the expense of his master. One understands better the attitude of the steward and the praise the master gives him if the steward changes these debts at his own expense by reducing his margin of profit. In the system of his day the steward would lend, for example, 50 jugs of olive oil and ask to be paid back 100 jugs as his share for arranging the loan. Such usurious rates were standard practices in those times.
Greeting (See Second Reading)
We have come together
to offer petitions and thanksgiving
through our Lord Jesus Christ,
the only mediator between God and people.
May the Lord Jesus be always with you. R/ And also with you.
Introduction by the Celebrant
I Have Entrusted Much to You
The Lord is asking us today: “What have you done with the many things and the people I have entrusted to you?” We speak much today of accountability not only for our jobs, our finances, our families and our parishes, but accountability for our very lives. God has put so much into our hands: the material things we have as well as our gifts and talents. These are not just personal gifts for our own enjoyment, but for our communities, for the Kingdom of God. May we give a good account to the Lord.
God or Mammon
We celebrate the Eucharist of the Lord. Here Jesus shares himself with us and he reminds us of how he gave himself so totally for us that in his love he was willing to die for all. In this light we have also to listen to his words. He knows that we need money and things but he warns us not to let money become our master. Rather, let the poor become your masters. The things you have are not really yours. They are on loan to you and you are their steward.
Penitential Act
We ask the Lord to forgive us
how selfishly we have managed
all that has been entrusted to us.
(pause)
Lord Jesus, when you called us to be good stewards,
we let money and possessions become our masters:
Lord. have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Jesus Christ, when you came to set us free,
we let power and ambition shackle us:
Christ, have mercy. R/ Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, when you wanted us to serve the poor
we gave them handouts instead of ourselves:
Lord, have mercy. R/ Lord, have mercy.
Set us free again from sin, Lord,
and make us good stewards of the earth’s goods.
Lead us to everlasting life. R/ Amen.
Opening Prayer
Let us pray to the Lord
that we may be fair and generous to all
(pause)
Just and merciful God,
make us a free people
that refuses to adore money and possessions
and to sacrifice the poor to them.
Make our hearts gentle and compassionate,
that we may open our hands and homes
to the dispossessed and those trampled upon,
to share with them in your name.
Make us just to all.
And may we, with you, lift up the lowly.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord. R/ Amen.
First Reading
Introduction: God’s People Must Be a Just People - In the name of true religion and the covenant, the prophet Amos warns God’s people: God will reject them if they enrich themselves at the expense of the poor.
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 so we can 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 along with the whole grain. We will buy up the poor for money and the needy for a pair of sandals.
The Lord, the pride of Jacob, has sworn by himself, “I shall never forget their deeds.”
Responsorial Psalm
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
to seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.
R. Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Second Reading
Introduction: God Wants Everyone to Be Saved - Liturgical prayer, says St. Paul, must be universal and missionary, as God wants everyone to be saved through the only mediator, Jesus Christ. We should not forget to include in our prayers those who do not yet know Christ.
First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings 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 the truth.
As there is one God, there is one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human,
and of this God has made me apostle and herald. I am not lying; I am telling the truth: He made me a teacher of the nations regarding faith and truth.
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Though our Lord Jesus Christ was rich, he became poor,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Give Me an Account of Your Service
The heart of Christians must be undivided. Their main concern is to serve God faithfully and to share generously what they have.
At another time, Jesus told his disciples:
“There was a rich man, whose steward was reported to him because of fraudulent service.
He summoned the steward and asked him:
‘What is this I hear about you? I want you to give an account of your service, for it is about to be terminated.’
The steward thought to himself, ‘What am I supposed to do now? My master will definitely fire me. I am not strong enough to do hard labor, and I am ashamed to beg.
I know what I will do: I must ensure 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 asked the same question:
‘How much do you owe?’
The answer was:
‘A hundred measures of wheat.’
Then the steward said:
‘Take your bill and write eighty.’
The master praised the dishonest steward for his sharpness, because the people of this world are often more clever at handling their own generation 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 with small things can also be trusted with big ones; whoever is dishonest about minor matters will also be dishonest about greater ones.
So, if you have been dishonest in handling dirty money, who would trust you with real wealth?
And if you have been dishonest with things that are not really yours, who will give you that wealth which is truly yours?
No servant can serve two masters. Either he does not favor one and prefers the other, or he respects one highly and looks down on the other. You cannot devote yourself to both God and Money.”
Prayers of the Faithful
Let us pray to the Lord our God to turn the hearts of all to the true values that last. Let us say: R/ Lord, hear your people.
– For the Church, that it may be a serving Church and a Church of the poor, bearing witness to God’s gratuitousness as a living parable of sharing, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear your people.
– For those in positions of responsibility in politics, finances and the economy, that justice and concern for the good of all may guide their decisions and actions, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear your people.
– For those who live by the work of their hands, that people may recognize their dignity and the service they render to all, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear your people.
– For the poor, those discriminated against, and all those with little access to the world’s goods, that they may receive a fairer share, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear your people.
– For our Christian communities, that there may be justice among us and a deep concern for each other’s happiness, that greed may give way to sharing and jealousy to loving service, let us pray: R/ Lord, hear your people.
Lord our God, free us from everything that makes us withdraw into ourselves. Make us live for one another and for you, our God for ever. R/ Amen.
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God,
you break for us here
the bread that satisfies the poor,
and pour for us the wine of joy
of Jesus, your Son.
With him, and by the wisdom and strength
of his Holy Spirit,
may we place ourselves
and all our gifts and creativity
in the service of people,
so that your kingdom may grow
in us and among all people,
and, by your grace, stand for ever. R/ Amen.
Introduction to the Eucharistic Prayer
Let us offer ourselves and our work to God that he may make it fruitful, for without him we can do nothing.
Invitation to the Lord’s Prayer
With Jesus our Lord
we pray to our Father in heaven
for the coming of his kingdom
even before we pray for our own needs: R/ Our Father...
Deliver Us
Deliver us, Lord, from every evil
and extend your peace to all the world.
Let it be a peace based on justice
and on access by every person and nation
to the goods of this earth,
both spiritual and material.
Help us to live without display
and without artificial needs.
May we all work together
for the full coming among us
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. R/ For the kingdom...
Invitation to Communion
This is Jesus, our Lord,
who lets us share in the bread and the cup
in which he gives himself to us.
Happy are we to receive him
who made himself poor for us
to make us rich in God. R/ Lord, I am not worthy...
Prayer after Communion (from Kyrie)
Almighty, all-rich God,
what you create you give away
and entrust to us.
We try to keep riches and power
firmly in our own hands.
We thank you that you are different:
generous and unobtrusive,
hidden behind your gifts.
Teach us that we do not become smaller
when we make one another great,
nor do we become poorer if others are well-off.
Let us be of the mentality of him
who gave up power and might for our sakes,
Jesus Christ our Lord. R/ Amen.
Blessing
Let us be good stewards
of all God’s good gifts to us,
and in the service of God and those around us.
And let us also be good stewards
of one another,
with the blessing of almighty God,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in peace,
and serve the Lord in one another.
R/ Thanks be to God.
Commentary
Leaders Who Care
Read: Through Amos, Yahweh warns those who selfishly manipulate resources excluding the poor and the needy. Paul invites us to pray for those in authority so that they govern for the good of all. Jesus exhorts us to be trustworthy in the earthly affairs, with a heart focused on what is eternal.
Reflect: Fr. Pedro Arrupe, 28th Superior General of the Jesuits, once remarked that any form of government could be good provided those in it had the best interests of the people in their hearts. The world has been currently witnessing a radicalization of national governance in many countries wherein hidden agendas have highjacked the leadership, leading to much victimization of people and collapse of democratic institutions. Fr. Mathew Vattamattam, 13th Superior General of Claretian Missionaries, was once asked by a fellow Claretian as to his greatest challenge as the superior general. “To protect the Congregation from myself,” he replied. If only every leader tried their best to protect their flocks from one’s own vested interests and focus on discerning, with the people and in the light of God’s will, what is genuinely good for the people!
Pray: Pray for your religious and civil leaders.
Act: Write a letter of appreciation to one of your leaders ensuring him/her of your prayers.
Reflection taken from Bible Diary 2022;written by Fr.Paulson Velyannoor, CMF
21 September 2025
Today’s Gospel presents us with one of the most difficult parables of Jesus—the story of the dishonest steward. At first glance, it seems strange: why would the Lord praise a man who cheated his master? But Jesus is not praising dishonesty. He is pointing us to the urgency of choosing wisely, of using the goods of this world to build love and friendship, and of remembering always that we are stewards, not owners.
In the time of Jesus, large estates were often managed by stewards who worked on behalf of wealthy landowners. These men often looked for their own advantage, using the land and the peasants for profit. In the parable, when the steward learns that he is about to lose his position, he acts quickly. He reduces the debts of his master’s tenants, not out of generosity, but to secure a future for himself. The master, surprisingly, praises him—not for his dishonesty, but for his cleverness and foresight.
And here is the point Jesus makes to His disciples: if even a dishonest steward knows how to prepare for the future, how much more should the children of God live with wisdom and foresight! The steward thought about tomorrow. Jesus is asking us: And you, do you think about tomorrow? About eternal life? Or do you live only for today, as if everything depended on what you own?
This is where the Gospel speaks powerfully to us. Everything we have is God’s gift—our talents, our time, our resources. We are stewards, not owners. As the Psalm says: “The earth is the Lord’s and all it holds” (Ps 24:1). When we forget this truth, when we live as if possessions were ours to hoard, we become enslaved by wealth. We begin to serve “mammon”—money, power, possessions—rather than God. And as Jesus says clearly: “You cannot serve both God and mammon.”
The question, then, is not whether wealth is good or bad. Jesus never condemns creation or the goods of this world. What matters is how we use them. If wealth becomes an idol, it destroys us. If it becomes a tool for love—if it feeds the hungry, helps the poor, builds community—then it serves the Kingdom of God.
Here lies the invitation of today’s parable: make friends with the goods of this world. Share what you have. Use it to build bonds of love. What you give away in love is never lost—it becomes “true wealth,” the treasure that lasts into eternal life. As St. Ambrose said: “We must not consider as wealth what we cannot take with us.”
Brothers and sisters, let us ask for the grace to be wise stewards. Let us not be deceived by the false promises of money. It cannot give us joy, it cannot give us peace, it cannot save us. Only God can. May we learn to serve Him alone, and to use all that He entrusts to us in service of love, so that one day we may be welcomed into His eternal home.