Stir it up: Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

                                                                     Stir it up:

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025 

September 21, 2025

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Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13

 

This is a confusing statement by Jesus in a parable: The master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently. You would have thought that Jesus would have urged the dishonest man to act morally upright, but that is not what he said. It is true that Jesus would have wanted him to do the right thing from the start, but the steward was clever enough to save himself from further punishment. Jesus is not applauding the actions, but the clever resourcefulness of the man, and he encourages his disciples to be clever in dealing with their predicaments. He does not want them to be naively victimized by the children of this world, but to combat it appropriately, because the goal is to reach heaven.

 

To be clear: the Scriptures are about caring for the needy and shrewdly stopping those who take advantage of the poor. We must unsettle the patterns and systems designed to exploit the poor. Richar Rohr in his book The Tears of Things speaks about a necessity of sacredness of disruption because it is motivated out of care and compassion for others. The motivation of this particular steward was designed to save his own hide, but it serves as a model for those who stand up against injustice.

 

Few of us like to disrupt the status quo. We are cautioned to be conflict avoidant, to stay comfortable, and to keep daily life smooth. If we look the other way, we become part of a system that is flawed. If we are silent and permissive, we will permit the systemic injustice to perpetuate, but if we stop, raise our voices, and speak of our displeasure, we interrupt a system that needs fundamental change. This disruption can be sacred if it is honest and loving and is benefitting the common good.

 

Few like to be prophets. I am not one who likes to stand or march in protest. I prefer to write letters and to have conversations that will bring about change. I am not conflict avoidant and my advocacy is done more relationally. Others I know will stand outdoors and raise their voices in public. I have learned that few people like to be in-your-face prophets, and few people take them seriously, so I try to find a more effective way for myself. Disrupting a system is not about being loud or aggressive, but it is about caring enough to say the uncomfortable statement. Being silent would be a betrayal of love.

 

We cannot be afraid of discomfort or unsettledness. Stress is good; distress in less good. It is important for us to see that discomfort is disguised as an invitation to grow. Stress leads to breakthroughs that are unforeseen and unanticipated. It is important for us to stop fearing disruption or disorder because something better will come out on the other side, if our agitation is holy and derived from compassion. We need to stop fearing conflict and embrace the possibilities that come from making matters uncomfortable. This is the faithful and clever activity that Jesus wants from us. It may be the most faithful thing we can do. Comfort is not peace; peace is built upon truth, a trust that comes from unsettled conflict. Perhaps it is time to act more like the dishonest steward who made peace with dishonest wealth. 

 

Scripture for Daily Mass

Monday: (Ezra 1) "Thus says Cyrus, king of Persia: 'All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD, the God of heaven, has given to me, and he has also charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.

 

Tuesday: (Ezra 6) The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building,
supported by the message of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo. They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius.

 

Wednesday: (Ezra 9) I said: “My God, I am too ashamed and confounded to raise my face to you, O my God, for our wicked deeds are heaped up above our heads and our guilt reaches up to heaven.

 

Thursday: (Haggai 1) Consider your ways! You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed.

 

Friday (Haggai 2) And take courage, all you people of the land, says the LORD, and work! For I am with you, says the LORD of hosts. This is the pact that I made with you
when you came out of Egypt.

 

Saturday (Zechariah 2) Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord. Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day.

 

Gospel: 

Monday: (Luke 8) "No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not become visible, and nothing secret that will not be known and come to light.

 

Tuesday: (Luke 8) The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you."

 

Wednesday (Luke 9) Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God
and to heal the sick.

 

Thursday (Luke 9) "John has been raised from the dead"; others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen." But Herod said, "John I beheaded.

 

Friday (Luke 9) “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

 

Saturday (Luke 9) "Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men." But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them.

 

Saints of the Week

 

September 21: Matthew, evangelist and Apostle (first century), may be two different people, but we have not historical data on either man. Since Matthew relies heavily upon Mark’s Gospel, it is unlikely that the evangelist is one of the Twelve Apostles. The Apostle appears in a list of the Twelve and in Matthew’s Gospel he is called a tax collector. The Evangelist is writing to Jewish-Christians who are urged to embrace their Jewish heritage and to participate in their mission to the Gentiles. To Matthew, Jesus is the fulfillment of the hopes of Jews and the inaugurator of a new way to relate to God.

 

September 22: Tomas Sitjar, S.J. and the martyrs of Valencia (1866-1936), were killed in the Spanish Civil War just a week after the war broke out. Sitjar was the Rector of Gandia and was formerly the novice director and metaphysics professor. The Jesuit Order was suppressed at the beginning of the war, which sent the men to disperse into apartments, but since they were known to the community, they were sought out, imprisoned, and later executed because of their belief in God. 

 

September 23: Pio of Pietrelcina, priest (1887-1968) was affectionately named Padre Pio and was a Capuchin priest who received the stigmata (wounds of Christ) just as Francis of Assisi did. He founded a hospital and became the spiritual advisor to many at a monastery at San Giovanni Rotondo.

 

September 26: Cosmas and Damian, martyrs (d. 287), were twins who became doctors. They were noted because they never charged anyone a medical fee. They died in the Diocletian persecution. Great miracles have been attributed to them and the Emperor Justinian is claimed to be healed through their intercession. 

 

September 27: Vincent de Paul, priest (1581-1660), was a French peasant who selected to be chaplain at the Queen's household after his ordination. He provided food and clothing to the poor, including prostitutes, the sick, disabled, and homeless. He founded the Congregation of Missions (Vincentians) to preach and train clergy and he co-founded the Daughters of Charity with Louise de Marillac.

 

This Week in Jesuit History

 

• September 21, 1557. At Salamanca, Melchior Cano wrote to Charles V's confessor, accusing the Jesuits of being heretics in disguise. 
• September 22, 1774. The death of Pope Clement XIV, worn out with suffering and grief because of the suppression of the Society. False stories had been circulated that he was poisoned by the Jesuits. 
• September 23, 1869. Woodstock College of the Sacred Heart opened. With 17 priests, 44 scholastics, and 16 brothers it was the largest Jesuit community in the United States at the time. 
• September 24, 1566. The first Jesuits entered the continental United States at Florida. Pedro Martinez and others, while attempting to land, were driven back by the natives, and forced to make for the island of Tatacuran. He was killed there three weeks later. 
• September 25, 1617. The death of Francisco Suarez. He wrote 24 volumes on philosophy and theology. As a novice he was found to be very dull, but one of his directors suggested that he ask our Lady's help. He subsequently became a person of prodigious talent. 
• September 26, 1605. At Rome, Pope Paul V orally declared St Aloysius to be one of the "Blessed." The official brief appeared on October 19. 
• September 27, 1540. Pope Paul III signed the Bull, Regimini Militantis Ecclesiae, which established the Society of Jesus.