Homily for the 25th Sunday in the Ordinary Time (YR C) September 18, 2022
“As long as anyone has the means of doing good to his neighbors and does not do so, he shall be reckoned a stranger to the love of the Lord.” -St. Irenaeus
The readings of today, remind us of what God expects from us– serving Him with the privileges and opportunities we have in life by being good and faithful stewards to the poor and to those whom we encounter daily.
Many of us have privileges that others do not have. Many occupy positions of authority and wield much power and influence in society, while many others (a greater number) are less privileged and do not have the opportunities like the privileged few. What we do with the privileges we have in life goes a long way in determining the more favors and blessings that come to us. “The value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy. It depends upon the way we occupy that place.” -St. Terese of Lisieux
In the first reading, Amos the prophet of social justice condemned the Jewish merchants of Judea in the 8th century BC for their crooked business and expressed how God swore by the pride of Jacob never to forget their evil treatment. God, to this day, detests the evil of those who use their privileged positions, opportunities, wealth, talents, and so forth to humiliate, oppress or dehumanize the poor and the less privileged. These were some of the crimes Amos lamented upon: Those who “fix their scale for cheating.” Worthy of mention here are those who adjust gas/fuel pumps to make more money and those who diminish the quality of services they render or goods they sell to others. This includes people who sell fake products in the name of quality ones. I can still remember a lady who wept bitterly when she realized that they sold a fake iPhone to her. I won’t fail also to mention those who manufacture fake drugs and watch many die by taking them. Unfortunately, there is also the physician who recommends drugs to promote the pharmaceutical company to his gains rather than giving the poor patient a simple home remedy. The list of crimes we commit against others in the name of making money is endless in our economically challenged world. Today we are warned to desist from such evil undertaking lest we perish by the anger of God who abhors the exploitation of the less privileged.
We are not equally privileged in life, and no one is privileged in every aspect of life, so we need one another. So, if you are privileged to be in a position where you are able to do something for others, do so with sacrificial love for others and fear of God. Offer your best, knowing that you may not have that opportunity tomorrow.
A literal interpretation of the Gospel of today would lead one into believing that Jesus commends dishonesty or that the dishonest steward’s actions were morally commendable. The steward sensed the danger ahead (losing his job) and decided to manipulate the financial records of his master’s business to his favor. In today’s world, such action would not only lead to his or her dismissal from the job but also land him or her in jail. It is criminal to manipulate financial records and all those who benefit from that sinful action are themselves, accomplices, in the crime. Jesus never commended the steward for his evil deeds (wasting the resources) but praised his shrewdness for having thought of doing good to others with his privileged position as a steward. This Gospel challenges us to use our time, energy, wealth, talents, positions, and privileges to do good to others when we have the opportunity to do so. This earns eternal friendship with God. Do not forget that, “The bread you store up belongs to the hungry; the cloak that lies in your closet belongs to the naked; the gold you have hidden in the ground belongs to the poor.” – St. Basil the Great
Let us avoid living dishonest lives in our attitude toward wealth and service to others in our different positions in life. Dishonesty, which is corruption, is what is destroying our relationships and our society. When we are dishonest with wealth, we profess more love for it than to God Who is the giver of the wealth, hence serving mammon and neglecting God. At this point I would beg you to reflect deeply on these words from the Gospel passage:
“If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? The person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones.” These are words of wisdom and every person who wants to be at peace with oneself and with others, especially with God must surely take these seriously. Life, we often say, is what we make out of it. Any good deed done to others has its’ blessings and rewards. When you are on your way going up, be good to those you meet because you may likely see them on your way back and by then, they may be in a position to decide your fate. Pay attention to little things because they decide a lot about your abilities in handling greater things. With St. Paul let us offer prayers and supplication for everyone, especially those of us who are more privileged than others, “that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity”.
Prayer: Lord I thank you for the privileges you have granted me despite my unworthiness. Give me an honest and generous heart to do good to others and may I not derail from loving you due to material rewards. Amen.
I keep you and your family always in my prayers. ©Clem C. Aladi (2024)
