You cannot serve God and Mammon

This Sunday, the 25^th Sunday in ordinary time, we continue to accompany Jesus in his journey to Jerusalem. Luke’s account of this journey started in chapter 9 and culminates in chapter 19 with the triumphant entry of Jesus in Jerusalem that we all know as the Passion Sunday or Palm Sunday.

We can say this journey is a geographical journey from Galilee in the north to Jerusalem in the south with his disciples. It Parallels Moses journey with the people of Israel from Egypt to the promised land which took them 40 years

An 11-day walk that became 40 years but the prolonged journey serves as an important symbol in the narrative of the Israelites. It’s not merely a tale of delay but a critical lesson of faith and trust in God’s divine plan.

My study for Jesus’ journey from Galilee to Jerusalem did not produce a definite timeline, but by foot the route can be a 5 to 7 days walk as traditionally done by pilgrim Jews who do this 3 times a year. And Jesus for how long it took him this time took this opportunity to teach his disciples on the truth about the kingdom of God and how to truly live a life of discipleship. It is also a journey of the heart, and we can say it is our journey.

Today, we find ourselves reading chapter 16 and we realize we have passed the midway point of the journey, and the lessons are becoming more intense and deliberate. Jesus in the Gospel today tells us another parable that is unique to Luke’s Gospel. Whereas the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son, also unique to Luke’s Gospel, they are among the most popular. The same cannot be said about today’s parable. Jesus tells his disciples a parable about a rich man and one of his employees or perhaps a slave or servant.

The NRSV version we use, calls him the dishonest steward or manager. And Jesus’ words at the conclusion of the Gospel reading is - you cannot serve God and Wealth.

The original Greek word used in the scripture here is mammonas which is related to similar words in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Latin, all translating to “money” or “wealth.”  In biblical texts, particularly the New Testament, the word mammon is often associated with the misuse of wealth and the temptation of materialism. It is used to illustrate the conflict between serving God and the pursuit of earthly riches. St. Paul affirms this in 1 Tim. 6:10: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

The Greek text of the New Testament calls the employee an οἰκονόμος (oikonomos), which means an estate manager. The role of the οἰκονόμος (oikonomos) in a large household was one of great responsibility, but also one of wealth and prestige.

In other words, he wasn’t just a servant but a trained, trusted and duly empowered agent of his master. It was not uncommon for the estate manager to enjoy considerable autonomy in overseeing his master’s affairs, and also to receive a considerable commission for his efforts.

Scholars disagree about the meaning of this parable. Some say he did this dishonestly at the expense of his master. Others say that he was simply giving away his own commission.

And this is the theological thought I was leaning to favor. That this manager or steward was a shrewd steward and not a dishonest steward. So the manager here is simply deducting the amount of his own commission from the amount owing.

This means that the manager is being opportunistic rather than dishonest. He forgoes his own commission to win goodwill that will serve him in his coming hour of need. This gives me some relief because it makes more sense, since rather than rebuking him, his master praised him for his prudence, otherwise, he would have shown the same attitude on that master in other parables like the parable of the talents where in the end, it is always not ending good for the servant.

We can end here brothers and sisters. All we need to remember is to make good use of the time, talent and treasure that God has given us and we can continue to slide in safely living our daily or weekly lives the way we live them now.

But these words – “Dishonest Steward” hounded me all this time. As I keep of repeating this words and praying and writing this reflection – it has suddenly dawn on me the Lord is actually pointing to a different form of dishonesty to me.

Thirty years ago, a Gallup poll called “Religion in America” demonstrated that 89% of regular churchgoers live their lives exactly in the same way as non-churchgoers–same rate of marital infidelity, cheating on income taxes, etc.

Don’t you think it is gross dishonesty to come here on a Sunday looking holy and nice and then live our lives void of God the rest of the week. God is only for Sunday, in fact there are a bigger population of Catholics that live their lives with God for “some” Sundays, or worst – 2 or 3 Sundays a year.

We are all stewards. We aren’t entitled to anything, even what we “own” in the eyes of the world. Just think about this, immediately after crossing the Red Sea, God gave the people of Israel the Decalogue (the ten words) which we call now the Ten Commandments.

One of the commandment is to honor the day of rest.  The Sabath for the Jews and now the Lord’s day for Christians. It is a reminder for them, they are no longer slaves. In Egypt, as slaves, they work 24/7.

This Sunday, we are also reminded of this beautiful reality. And this parable should give us hope. Even if we are dishonest, we can do something about that, so it is not a disaster for us in the end.

In the first reading from Amos, the Lord swears never to forget the way His hearers have cheated and trampled the poor. And it is an opportune time for us to consider maybe I need to seek God’s forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. For who knows, that if I am only here 3 times a year, when was the last time I was in the confessional.

The second reading from 1 Timothy calls us to pray for others, especially those in authority, so that we can all live lives of peace and devotion. Given the division and violence in our country today and in the world, especially in the wake of tragic assassinations and school shootings, these words take on particular urgency. God wants everyone to be saved, to know His truth, and ultimately be united in His love.

This message from Paul ties in with the Gospel lesson: the way we treat others and use our gifts determines our readiness to one day receive the true wealth and permanent gift of eternal life.

Let us pray for those who hold positions of leadership, and for those who hate us and disagree with us. I invite you to recognize everything you have as undeserved gifts, and to use it all with generosity to form relationships of love—never as instruments of hatred, violence, or selfishness. With God’s help, we can begin the transformation of our country, our church, especially our homes which is in such desperate need of renewal. I pray that someday, we can all enjoy the eternal dwelling place that God has set out for us.

On the day I called, O Lord, You answered me

Year C, 17^th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 27, 2025 @ St. Patrick’s
(Sunday 11am, 1pm and 4pm Masses)

First Reading:                      Genesis 18:20-32

Do not be angry, O Lord if I speak

Responsorial Psalm:          Psalms 138: 1-2a, 2b-3, 6-7ab, 7c-8 (R.3)

On the day I called, O Lord, you answered me.

Second Reading:                Colossians 2:12-14

God made us alive with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses.

Gospel:                                Luke 11:1-13

Ask, and it will be given you.

 

On this 17^th Sunday in ordinary time, the Church is asking us to reflect on this great gift. This gift is PRAYER.

The Lord says in the Gospel: “ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”

This is not a “make-good or feel-good” statement that politicians or any public figure do to get attention. This comes from the Lord……. Jesus himself spoke these words. And for those who believe, these words come with a promise – God sees, hears, and feels you and he will act accordingly.

In the first reading, we see Abraham interceding for Sodom and Gomorrah. God’s decision to destroy these 2 cities is a response to an “outcry” (in Hebrew implies oppression and suffering), in this case, to extreme moral corruption and injustice.

The cities became symbols of sin and of people who believe they are not doing anything wrong because they have taken away God in their society and everyone decides which is good or bad.

I wonder if we can say the same thing with what is happening in our society today.

And here was Abraham, pleading on behalf of the righteous people of these cities – “suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; will you then sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”  God has committed to honor Abraham’s prayer and could have relented and turned his back. But there was none – Abraham’s final bid – not even 10 righteous in these cities (pause).

And this is the first prayer lesson for all of us today, my dear brothers and sisters.

(1) God hears and acts on the prayer of a righteous man:

·     Bible scholars observed that in Abraham’s prayer, he uses one of the languages of God - mercy. It is that prayer: is first and foremost about asking for mercy.

·       Mercy for our own self but also important, mercy for other people.

·    Abraham was not even there, but from a distance, he pleaded and interceded for the family of Lot (wife and 2 daughters), and he was hoping there were 6 more righteous people living in either of the cities.

Don’t we come here with prayer intentions or petitions for someone we know? We are here and offer that prayer and in doing so, we are interceding, pleading with God on their behalf.

And maybe, our city, our country and probably the world have been saved because of the intercession and pleading of righteous people, some of them maybe right here with us. And this is a good reason why it is important why need to go to Church on Sundays.

Because here, we learn the second prayer lesson. And that is:

(2) We don’t pray alone. Seemingly as we kneel here today, that the prayer we say is private. Something between me and God, but it is not. Just think about this:

·       Collect prayer: by being here, the prayer you have said here becomes the prayer of not only the 650 +/- of who are here but of all the people present on the same Liturgy being celebrated on this 17^th Sunday in ordinary time in every place and in every time.

·       It is the same Liturgy, and we are all united in prayer wherever this Liturgy is taking place, regardless it was said 14 hours ahead in the East or 14 hours later in the West.

·       It is the same Liturgy and God and the heavenly realm are present in this one Liturgy where in the mystery of God’s love unites all believers.

·       We are talking about millions of Catholic faithful in the same Mass, partaking of the same bread that has been broken down for us.

·       And even if there are only 1000 righteous Catholics in attendance this weekend over the millions in attendance, it is still like having a thousand Abraham pleading, interceding and praying for you and me today. (Pause).

Supposing one night on your drive home, you see a car wreck on the road. Paramedics, police, ambulance, fire truck are all there to attend to the crash victim, what do you do?

If you are a good Catholic, you make the sign of the Cross and say a prayer for the victims of this crash and you go along.

But in case, you recognize that the car is your son’s or daughter’s or husband’s or wife’s….. that is another story. You will stop and run to the crash scene, not because you can do better than the first responders, but because he or she or they are not just random persons.

And this is the third and final lesson about prayer for us today……

(3) That God is not a random person and you are not a random person to God.

In the Gospel, Jesus reveals to us that God is first our Father (Greek: Abba)

·       Abba is a word of endearment for a father. Jesus taught us to call God – Abba

·       He is not teaching us some grammar or some historical or geographical lessons on relationships. He is trying to teach us who we really are.

·       If God is our Father, what are we? – we are brothers and sisters!

Two weeks ago, we encountered in the Gospel the man left dying after being robbed. The priest and the Levite regard him as a random person.

·       The priest serves in the temple only 1x a year and if he touches a random bloody person, he becomes ritually unclean and will have to be isolated and do the religious ritual process of cleansing. It was inconvenient and so the same for the Levite.

·       The easier option is to avoid the encounter and continue to make way and just do what they do best.

 

I believe that is the same reason why last week, Jesus commended Mary and telling Martha that Mary chose the better part.

·       We have forgotten who we are and when we look around, the person sitting besides us, in front of us or behind us are not random persons – they are our brothers and sisters.

·       If blood siblings are connected via the same umbilical cord coming from the same mother, we are all connected because we all have been baptized by the same Holy Spirit.

·      And this relationship does not end when one dies. For we die yet we live in Christ. This is what we mean in the article of our faith that we profess every week and we will profess in a short minute, we say: “we believe in the communion of saints.”

·    This is, if we can pray for one another here and now, our brothers and sisters in heaven who are more alive than us can do the same.

·    And in this Liturgy, imagine how many saints are here right now in heaven praying for you and me.

When we understand what actually happens when we are at Mass, nothing should bother us. The stock market can drop a thousand points in a day, flight maybe delayed or cancelled, favorite team can lose, plans can fall apart, lose a job, diagnosed with a big C...etc... but our joyful outlook and deep inner peace will remain in our hearts.

I believe God created us with some kind of a homing device right there in our hearts. This maybe what St. Augustine was thinking when he said that 'our hearts are restless until if finds rest in God.'

God as our Father longs for our voice and affection. He knows our pain and we can't hide it from Him. He is waiting for us to come and meet Him. He awaits us in the Eucharist not just as a random person. But as a Father to a son…as a Father to a daughter. I pray we approach him with the same disposition in our hearts. Amen.

May God bless us all…...

Peace and Presence: God Dwells With Those Who Love Him

6^th Sunday of Easter, Year C
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 1pm and 4pm Masses

May 25, 2025

THEME: “Peace and Presence: God Dwells With Those Who Love Him”

This Sunday focuses on the promise of Jesus’ continued presence through the Holy Spirit, the gift of divine peace, and the Church’s call to remain united and faithful in love and obedience.

1^st Reading:     Acts 15: 1-2, 22-29

                              It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than what is

essential

Res. Psalm:      Ps. 67: 1-2, 4-5, 6-7 (R. 4)

                              Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you

2^nd Reading:    Rev. 21: 10-14, 22-2

                              I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.

Gospel:            Jn: 14: 23-29

                              Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.

Introduction – The Promise of Divine Presence

A blessed afternoon/evening to all of you my dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

This Sunday’s Gospel passage comes from the Farewell Discourse of Jesus at the Last Supper, a continuation from last Sunday.  Liturgically, we are still in the joyful season of Easter and the Church continues to draw our hearts closer to the Risen Lord, who has conquered death and now offers us new life.

Today, on this 6th Sunday of Easter, we are invited to reflect on a powerful promise: God is not distant. He dwells among us. He makes His home in the hearts of those who love Him.

And the readings today resonate with a beautiful harmony. They speak of peace, guidance, and presence—three gifts that are inseparable when you have a relationship with God.

In the Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for His departure and since we will be celebrating His ascension next week, Jesus’ final departure from the earth, He also assures us - that though He is going to the Father, He is not leaving us orphaned.

He promises to send the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who will remind us of everything He has taught. This is not just a theological truth—it is a personal, living reality.

This beautiful reality that God is with us. And not just with us, but within us, if we open our hearts in love and obedience.

The Gospel – Love, Obedience, and Peace

From the time of Moses to early Christianity, people believe that God’s presence is only found in the temple. But in the Gospel today, Jesus revealed a profound mystery - that the presence of God is not limited to temples or rituals, but that He dwells in the heart of every believer who lives in love and obedience.

I was kind of hoping that our angelic choir will remain true to the Liturgy and give us the right Gospel Acclamation and they did not disappoint.
In the Gospel acclamation that came from the Gospel reading itself, we have just heard Jesus says:

“Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him."

We become his temple. For those who love and obey - their bodies become the temples of the Holy Spirit. And Jesus adds a crucial element: peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives.”

"Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum: Habemus Papam!" (I announce to you a great joy: We have a Pope!)

Three weeks or so ago, we have been given a new Pope – Leo XIV. He was elected on the 5^th balloting, the 2^nd day of Conclave. And I can imagine as his name is called – “Cardinal Prevost” over and over again as the votes are tallied, from the 1^st balloting to the last, that he would have felt some kind of fear and the overwhelming feeling of unworthiness.

This maybe a big moment in Cardinal Prevost, but his life has been marked by many occasions of saying yes to God. He has lots of experience facing God with love in his hear and saying yes.

You see brother and sisters - Love and obedience—these are not meant to be burdens. They are the fruit of a relationship with Christ. When we love someone, we naturally desire to please them, to honor their words, to live in harmony with their will.

This I think is the reason why Pope Leo’s first word as he steps onto the balcony and gives his first blessing, Urbi et Orbi ("To the City and the World"), to the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square and watching around the world.

"Peace be with you all"

This is not the fragile peace of politics or the temporary calm of a stormy day. This is Christ’s own peace, rooted in trust, in presence, in the unshakable reality that God is with us.

This peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of God amid trouble.
How many of us today long for this peace? In our families, in our hearts, in our world? Christ offers it freely, but it begins with a heart open to His presence.

The Early Church – Unity Through the Spirit

The First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows us a practical example of the Holy Spirit guiding the Church. The early Christians faced serious conflict—what was required of the Gentile converts? Must they follow the Mosaic Law?

Instead of division, the apostles, with prayer and discernment, listened to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. They send Barsabbas and Silas with Paul and Barnabbas to Antioch with this beautiful message:

"It has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to impose on you no further burden than what is essential"

This phrase teaches us a deep truth: the Holy Spirit is not just a divine inspiration floating above us. He is active in the life of the Church, especially in moments of discernment, unity, and leadership.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to guide ourselves, our families, our parishes, or our personal decisions—we participate in this same divine wisdom. And it brings peace. It brings clarity. It brings communion.

This is the same Spirit Jesus promised in the Gospel, and He continues to speak in the Church today.

The Heavenly Jerusalem – A Vision of Fulfilled Presence

Finally, in the Book of Revelation, we are given a vision of the New Jerusalem. It is a radiant city, but what makes it truly glorious is not its walls or jewels, but the fact that God dwells in it.

“I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb.”

This vision is not just about heaven; it points to what we are already called to become: a people in whom God dwells. Every Mass, every act of love, every time we obey Christ’s word, we allow that heavenly Jerusalem to take shape in us.

The Church, even in her imperfections, is meant to be a sign of that future city, a foretaste of heaven, where peace reigns and God is fully present.

Conclusion – Living as Dwellings of God

So today, dear friends, let us open our hearts anew to the promise of Christ:

• Let us love Him by keeping His word.

• Let us welcome His peace, not as the world gives, but as a gift of the Spirit.

• Let us live as the early Church did—guided by the Holy Spirit, building unity and truth.

• And let us become, more and more, a people in whom God dwells.

May our lives reflect the joy of Easter, the presence of the Risen Lord, and the peace that comes only from Him.

And may we say with confidence: “Come, Holy Spirit, dwell in us. Make our hearts Your home.”

Amen.