September 18, 2022

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Am 8:4-7 1 Tm 2:1-8 Lk 16:1-13 or Lk 16:10-13

GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE

GROW: Our body language says a lot. Crossed arms can signal anger or defensiveness, while arms outstretched imply openness. It’s unlikely Timothy researched nonverbal cues, but his encouragement to pray while “lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument” is good advice. I think this posture can carry into other areas of our life, including our relationship with money and/or possessions. If we cling to these, we risk closing ourselves off to life’s true riches: our faith and our relationships, for example. As we learn in today’s Gospel, we cannot serve both God and mammon. In our culture, it’s easy to get caught up in accumulating more possessions or holding tight to what we have. Jesus challenges us to place our trust in God rather than the ups and downs of the stock market or our bank account. Let us, instead, approach Jesus in prayer, arms wide open.

GO EVANGELIZE | PRAYER, INVITATION, WITNESS, ACCOMPANIMENT

GO: I rarely miss a planned morning workout. I carefully lay out my clothes, go to bed early, and set my alarm. It helps to meet up with a friend for that added layer of accountability. These are all “small things,” but they indicate my investment in the activity and help me build trust in myself and within my friendships. I wonder if we can’t do the same when it comes to staying spiritually fit. For me, being “trustworthy in very small matters” is a bit like my workout routine. We don’t need grand gestures to keep our relationship with Jesus strong: setting aside time in the morning to focus on prayer; going to Mass even when we don’t feel like it; talking with a friend about ways to grow spiritually. In his letter, Timothy reminds his followers that prayer and devotion are “good and pleasing to God our savior.” Should we become discouraged, we can find comfort in knowing that God wills everyone to be saved. Through prayer and seemingly small changes in our routine, we can challenge ourselves and encourage each other to make our relationship with Jesus our first priority.

ACT: Think about your daily routine. What small change can you make to enhance your relationship with God? It may be as simple as saying a good-morning prayer or beginning a list of people and things for which you are grateful.