"FIRST IMPRESSIONS"
25th SUNDAY -C-
September 28, 2025
Amos 8: 4-7; Psalm 113; I Timothy 2: 1-8; Luke 16: 1-13
By: Jude Siciliano, OP
Dear Preachers:
No parable is an easy read. At first glance, some of them seem simple enough – but then their meaning slowly seeps into us. Sometimes, with a sudden shock of awareness, we realize we must reevaluate our lives. Today’s parable brings extra complications both for the preacher and for those who will hear it proclaimed this Sunday. The difficulties appear quickly. What exactly was the steward’s "squandering" of the master’s property? Why would the rich man praise him for actions that seem dishonest and self-serving? Is the parable really suggesting we imitate a conniving man who acts only to save his neck?
Today’s gospel has two segments: the parable itself (vv. 1–8a) and the sayings that follow (vv. 8b–13), both tied together by the theme of money. To keep the focus clear, I would suggest preaching on just one section, not both. Let the other wait until it comes around again in the Lectionary.
The parable is the main feature, so let us focus there. The steward has been caught. We do not know his exact offense, but he has been accused of "squandering" his master’s property. He is in trouble and must act quickly and decisively. And he does: he reduces the debts owed to his master. But isn’t that dishonest too? How can he be praised for it? This gospel passage has long been a challenge for readers and interpreters of scripture.
One possibility is that the steward had been charging excessive interest, hoping to make a personal profit. By reducing the debts, he may have been eliminating his own dishonest gain. Since usury was forbidden by Jewish law, he would, in fact, be returning to proper practice as an observant Jew. Or perhaps he was simply cutting out his rightful commission. In either case, his action looks shrewd. That may explain why the following sayings (vv. 8b–13) were linked to the parable. The first is particularly fitting: "For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light." The steward acted decisively in a moment of crisis – and that is what earns him praise.
Jesus may be pointing to another kind of urgency for his followers. As he continues toward Jerusalem, where he will suffer and die, what will they do in that crisis? Will they remain "children of light," with the wisdom to keep choosing Jesus and his way? Or will they become "children of the world," opting for the quick fix and the easy escape? The same question is asked of us. What will we do when crises come—as they already have, and surely will again? We hope we will be prudent stewards, taking stock of the situation and turning once more toward the light. That is something to pray for at this Eucharist: a prayer of gratitude for times when God guided us well, and a prayer of hope that God will guide us the next time. "Help us to act prudently, O God."
The parable also invites us to examine our use of material possessions. One of Luke’s central themes is Jesus’ suspicion of wealth. Material things can trap us and distract us from what truly matters. We have seen families divided over inheritances; marriages ruined by obsession with business; wars fought over land and resources; lives destroyed by the relentless pursuit of the "bottom line."
And yet Jesus says we can "make friends with dishonest wealth." In Luke’s gospel, some wealthy people use their possessions wisely in God’s service. The woman who anointed Jesus with costly ointment (7:36ff) and Zacchaeus, who gave half his goods to the poor (19:18), are examples of "children of light" using resources faithfully.
Many people, then and now, have learned how to use their possessions to serve God. Moved by teachings like today’s gospel, they act quickly and decisively when needs arise. Not all give everything away – though some do – but they refuse to let "mammon" rule their lives. For example: business leaders who fund training for the unemployed so they can support their families; volunteers who help the elderly manage finances for health care; lawyers who take cases for the poor without charge; teachers who stay after school to help struggling students. These are people who recognize resources as gifts to be used under the guidance of Jesus’ light.
If we spend too much time untangling the cultural details of this parable, we risk missing its force. Jesus is pressing us about our fundamental loyalties. Who or what comes first in our lives? If, after honest reflection, we see ourselves living more as "children of this world" than as "children of the light," then the parable becomes an urgent call to set things right – and to do so quickly. Put plainly: God’s business, and only God’s, must come first.
The prophet Amos reinforces this message. He condemns those who profit at the expense of the poor. As citizens of the developed world, we often enjoy comforts made possible by low wages and unjust practices abroad. Our inexpensive clothing, for example, may be produced in sweatshops. Both Amos and Luke remind us that God sides with the poor. Jesus even labels wealth itself "dishonest," questioning how we obtain it and at what cost to others.
The truth is that what we possess is not entirely our own; it has been entrusted to us. We are responsible for using the goods of this earth, and even the fruits of our labor, in ways that benefit the larger community—our families, parishes, nation, and the world. The parable should unsettle us if most of our energy is spent securing our own material future rather than seeking what matters to God.
So the questions remain: What can we do to make the world a better place? How can we help the poor? To whom must we show forgiveness and compassion? How might we deepen our relationships? In short: how will we live as children of light in a world that measures worth by wealth, power, and influence?
Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings: