Sharing with others also means creating inventions and employment … so we empower others to succeed
Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – September 21, 2025
Today’s readings focus on the important topic of Stewardship: an important issue today as our world has fallen into a mess of violence, corruption and high levels of poverty in many countries. It is easy to criticise politicians and/or business leaders in many countries but, today, Jesus invites us to see ourselves as stewards. God is rich man/ landlord.
Do we see everything we have as a gift to be used for the good our community, as well as ourselves? Our talents, possessions and national resources: how generous are we with them? As Christians we are today’s stewards tasked to manage these gifts for, and on behalf of, God.
Of course, the First Reading is the ultimate goal of guiding our behaviour as Stewards: not only to use God’s gifts well, but to make sure we do not cheat other people doing business. Cheating the poorer people eventually destroys the whole community because, as they grow more desperate, we create the conditions for revolution and destruction.
Luke’s story of the rich man and his clever manager is better understood if we understand ancient Palestinian economics and usury laws (from Patricia Datchuck Sánchez).
Given the known history of the times, the rich man may have been an absentee land owner who had entrusted his business affairs to a manager. The manager was a trained and trusted employee, who had the authority to represent his master in all business transactions. In that capacity, the manager could make loans, rent or lease property, collect debts, fees, etc.
On each business transaction, the manager, like the tax collector, was to recoup his master’s money in full. In the process he was free to earn for himself on each transaction a commission that took the form of interest added on to the principal. According to the [OT] laws, it was forbidden to take interest on loans to fellow Israelites. But, … It was argued that the law applied only to the destitute in order to protect them from exploitation.
If it could be proven that the intended borrower had at least some of the commodity he wished to borrow and was under no compulsion, a loan could be permitted. “In this way commercial transactions were concluded by a legal fiction, without infringing on the letter of the law.”
The clear message of Jesus is that we are called to make good use of all the gifts God has given us: if the cunning Gospel steward can create many future welcomes for himself, why can’t we? Of course, Jesus is talking about being welcomed into the Kingdom of God/ Heaven.
As the Gospel Steward probably thought his Master would be long in coming back, so many people might think Heaven is also a long way off: especially if I’m only 25. So, if I cheat a bit now, I’ll have plenty of time to do good later, and maybe God will forget by the end of my life.
However, God’s desire for us is that we enter Heaven daily, not through material pleasures, but through the love we experience and our feelings of self-worth as we empower others: which is why parents are usually quite fulfilled and happy, despite being exhausted most of the time.
So, what is Luke calling us to do exactly? Luke is seen by the experts as someone worried about how material things can lead us astray. So, the parable is calling us, firstly, to build security and make friends through generosity with what we have for those in need. However, the parable also calls us to go beyond simple concern for the hungry, naked or homeless.
The Kingdom of God, should be seen as a perfect democratic society, where Governments create structures and opportunities for people to use their creativity and skills to create businesses and jobs: then people (especially the poor) can develop their talents and skills. So, we must use our skills and talents to help the whole nation, not just my personal bank account.
Finally, what about our attitude and responses to the opportunities God gives us through others:
- When we go to work, do we do as much as possible for the boss? Are we cheating through laziness, taking equipment/ materials from the boss? Do we warn the boss when something is dangerous/ damaged: or so we keep quiet and let the boss suffer? When the company suffers, eventually we will too. And, if we cheat the boss, on what basis do we ask for help later?
As the 2nd reading reminds us to not only pray for Governments, but let us also pray for our work bosses: we may not like our Boss but, by doing so, we safeguard our jobs. And, if on public transport, are we careful not to damage seats as a courtesy for other passengers? Do we make it easy for others people on the road to drive safely?
The Gospel is a complicated text in some ways, however, one simple message we can take from it is this: It’s never too late to change our bad behaviour and do good.
Especially priests and religious, we need to be generous and honest, a model for others to follow in the current world with much corruption and dishonesty.
This week, let’s ask ourselves: am I an honest or dishonest steward? As a way to truly protect my children through a healthy society, what can I do to improve my stewardship?
By Gerard Conlan, OMI
