25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 6:1-13
Sunday Gospel Reflections by Sister Angele Lewis

All three readings for this Sunday remind us to get our priorities in-order. We are to live in the world, but we are not to be of the world. We must remember why we were created, how we are to use our God-given gifts, and where we are going. We are not made for this world. We are made for God!

The first reading from Amos highlights the misuse of marketing practices and the evils of greed while the second reading highlights the qualities of a person “right” with God, self and neighbor: prayerful and peaceful! The responsorial psalm shows God calling those living in poverty to question our individual, familial, communal, corporate, and global choices that perpetuate systemic injustice with all of its multiple faces. That is quite enough to chew on and apply to everyday life. Each reading offers a real challenge and opportunity to re-think our basic attitudes about money and wealth. However, the Gospel with the Parable of the Shrewd Manager concludes the readings for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time.

On first reading, the master commends his dishonest steward for acting prudently. He knew how to look after himself. He was shrewd, clever, or “streetwise.” Streetwise people are on constant alert, surviving by their wits. He has foresight and wisdom to plan ahead and look out for his own future. Jesus is asking us to be smart in the same way—but for what is right and just. He tells us to do right things for right reasons! Can’t we see that using money to benefit others is simply the best way to use earth’s wealth?

Today it is still true that people, who live for this world, with only their worldly motives and methods, are often more shrewd in managing their lives than “children of the light.” People of the world have business plans, schemes and strategies to reduce costs and maximize their rate of return. They work to achieve their ambitious goals. And, what about us, who are called the “children of the light?” What enlightened plans, carefully thought-out strategies, conserted efforts, noble sacrifices engage us to build the kingdom of God?

We can use whatever wealth we have wisely: to do good, to relieve suffering, to support God’s people and to build the kingdom of God. We can use adversity as a “stimulus package” and concentrate our attention and energies on what is just so that we will really live life to the fullest in this world and in the next.

Questions for Reflection:
What is your attitude about wealth and money?
Whose kingdom are you building?
How are you using your gifts and talents to build the kingdom of God?

Jesus said to his disciples,
"A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.' The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg. I know what I shall do so that, when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes.' He called in his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my master?' He replied, 'One hundred measures of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty.' Then to another the steward said, 'And you, how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One hundred kors of wheat.' The steward said to him, 'Here is your promissory note; write one for eighty.' And the master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

"For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and mammon."

            This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Sister Angele Lewis

Sister Angele Lewis has been a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) for 38 years. In 1972 she entered the California Province of the Sisters of Notre Dame. She was sent the following year to Ipswich, MA for her canonical novitiate. In 1974, Sr. Angele was missioned to Notre Dame High School, Belmont and to St. Charles Convent, San Carlos, CA for her second year Novitiate (ministry year). She made First and Final Vows in the Chapel at the College of Notre Dame, Belmont (now Notre Dame de Namur University). Her years at Belmont confirmed for Sr. Angele that she is a teacher at heart. She taught for over 25 years in Notre Dame elementary and high schools and in local parish education programs on the West and East coasts of the United States. She also spent over 5 years providing graphic arts, design and typesetting services for non-profit agencies and for the International Communications Office of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.

Sister Angele is presently serving as a vocation team member for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in the United States. She manages the national vocation office, provides support services for other team members and responds to women seeking information about religious life, discernment, prayer, and the Sisters of Notre Dame through various communications channels. She serves as a working Board Member of the National Religious Vocation Conference (NRVC) and is a member of the US Communications System Planning Group for the Sisters of Notre Dame in the United States. Sister has lived and ministered in eastern Massachusetts since 2003.