Reading: Luke 16:1-13 (Year C, 2025)
As we approach the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Gospel from Luke invites us to reflect deeply on stewardship, integrity, and the proper use of the resources God entrusts to us. Jesus presents the parable of the dishonest manager – a story that challenges both our understanding of wealth and our relationship with God.
Understanding the Gospel
In Luke 16:1-13, Jesus tells of a rich man and his manager, who is accused of mismanaging the master’s property. Facing dismissal, the manager acts shrewdly, reducing the debts of his master’s debtors so that they will welcome him when he loses his position. Surprisingly, the master praises the manager for his astuteness.
Jesus then contrasts the children of this world with the children of light: the former are often more diligent in their dealings, whereas the latter – God’s people – must consider how to act faithfully with the resources entrusted to them.
The parable concludes with timeless advice: “No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and money” (Luke 16:13).
Lessons in Stewardship
This passage challenges us to reflect on our own lives, regardless of the amount of resources we possess. The Gospel is not just about billionaires or millionaires; it speaks to everyone about how we handle what God has given us.
Key lessons include:
- Faithfulness in Small Matters: Trustworthiness in minor responsibilities reflects our reliability in greater ones. Conversely, dishonesty in small matters often translates into larger failings.
- Money as a Tool, Not a Master: Jesus reminds us that money, while necessary for daily life, should not dominate our hearts or decisions. It is tainted by the potential for greed, yet it can also be used to enrich others and foster God’s kingdom.
- Generosity and Awareness: Luke’s Gospel consistently highlights generosity and attentiveness to others. The story urges us to use our resources wisely, not hoard them, and to enable others to flourish.
- Single-Minded Loyalty to God: Our hearts must be free from divided loyalties. Serving God fully means prioritising His will over personal gain, comfort, or attachment to material wealth.
Reflection on Modern Life
Reading this parable today, we are confronted with a world of unprecedented wealth and inequality. While some dedicate their lives to amassing fortunes, society often lacks wisdom about true value – what enriches life spiritually, morally, and communally.
Bishop David reflects:
“It’s a sober reminder of what we value, how we use the gifts we’ve been given, and whether we are honest and generous with them. Even in small, everyday decisions – how we spend or share resources – we are invited to reflect on who we serve and how we live in alignment with God’s will.”
Even seemingly minor acts of virtue – paying for a colleague’s coffee or sharing resources when one could keep them – mirror the larger principle of faithfulness and integrity taught in this parable.
Moving Forward
The Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time calls us to consider:
- Am I faithful with the resources entrusted to me?
- How can I use what I have to serve God and uplift others?
- Where in my life might I unknowingly serve two masters?
By engaging honestly with these questions, we move closer to God and allow His word to guide our daily actions, shaping us into people who are astute, generous, and faithful.
Prayer for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Oh God, who founded all the commands of your sacred law upon love of you and of our neighbour, grant that by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
by David Walker