25th Sunday C

Welcome to our Bible Study
25th
Sunday in the Ordinary Time C
18 September 2016
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1st
reading: Amos 8,4-7
 4 Hear this, you who trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the land! 5 "When will
the new moon be over," you ask, "that we may
sell our grain, and the sabbath, that we may
display the wheat? We will diminish the ephah,
add to the shekel, and fix our scales for
cheating! 6 We will buy the lowly man for silver,
and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even
the refuse of the wheat we will sell!" 7 The
LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never
will I forget a thing they have done!
The focus is on injustices.

1st
reading: Amos 8,4-7
Man’s injustices
 4 Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and
destroy the poor of the land! 5 "When will the new
moon be over," you ask, "that we may sell our grain,
and the sabbath, that we may display the wheat? We
will diminish the ephah, add to the shekel, and fix our
scales for cheating! 6 We will buy the lowly man for
silver, and the poor man for a pair of sandals; even the
refuse of the wheat we will sell!"
God’s justice
 7 The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never
will I forget a thing they have done!
A simple outline!

Textual Context of Amos 8,4-7
Introduction (1,1-2)
Part I Oracles against the nations and Israel (1,3-2,16)
Part II Three judgment speeches, which begin with
"Hear this word" (3,1-5,6)
Three collections of Woe Sayings (5,7-17; 5,18-27; 6,1-14)
Part III Three visions (7,1-9)
Confrontation with Amaziah (7,10-17)
Fourth Vision (8,1-3)
Judgment of Israel (con't) (8,4-14)
Vision of the altar (9,1-6)
Judgment of Israel concluded (9,7-10)
Conclusion - A Word of Hope for Judah (9,11-15)

1st
reading: Amos 8,4-7
Man’s injustices
 4 Hear this, you who
trample upon the needy
and destroy the poor of the
land! 5 "When will the new
moon be over," you ask,
"that we may sell our grain,
and the sabbath, that we
may display the wheat?
We will diminish the ephah,
add to the shekel, and fix
our scales for cheating! 6
We will buy the lowly man
for silver, and the poor
man for a pair of sandals;
even the refuse of the
wheat we will sell!"
God’s justice
 7 The LORD has sworn by
the pride of Jacob: Never
will I forget a thing they
have done!
Commentary
 Amos is a prophet of social justice. He is
the first among the writing prophets. He
prophesied long before the Exile.
 In the text (oracle), Amos warns those who
oppress the poor and the needy in parallel
form:
 you who trample the needy // you who
destroy the poor of the land. V.4
 v.5 indicates the oppressors’ impatience
of not being able to do their thing because
of the “new moon” and “sabbath.” (Holy
days are even seen as time constraints).
 V.5b indicates that oppressors are
business people. They cheat by
 Diminishing the ephah (standard of
measure, more than a bushel)
 Adding to the shekel (money,
measurement also)
 Fixing the scales.

1st
reading: Amos 8,4-7
Man’s injustices
 4 Hear this, you who trample
upon the needy and destroy
the poor of the land! 5 "When
will the new moon be over,"
you ask, "that we may sell our
grain, and the sabbath, that
we may display the wheat?
We will diminish the ephah,
add to the shekel, and fix our
scales for cheating! 6 We will
buy the lowly man for silver,
and the poor man for a pair of
sandals; even the refuse of
the wheat we will sell!"
God’s justice
 7 The LORD has sworn by
the pride of Jacob: Never will
I forget a thing they have
done!
 V.6 indicates that the
oppressors are engaged in
buying slaves cheaply.
 They make money out of
anything.
 V.7 serves as severe warning
to the oppressors. It is just a
matter of time that God will get
them and finish them off.

Reflections on the first reading
 God abhors injustices.
 God objects to businessmen, who device
systems to make themselves richer, without due
regard to the poor.
 They dictate the prices, they manipulate the
scales.
 They consider people as commodities or
materials (tools) to get rich.
 They totally disregard human rights, dignity and
decency.
 Warning to you, crooks and cheats: God will
soon get to you.

Resp. Ps 113:1-2, 4 & 6, 7-8
 R. (cf. 1a, 7b) Praise the Lord who lifts up the poor.
1 Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
4 High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
6 Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the earth below?
 7 He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
8 to seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.

Resp. Ps 113:1-2, 4 & 6, 7-8
 R. (cf. 1a, 7b) Praise the Lord who
lifts up the poor.
1 Praise, you servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD
both now and forever.
4 High above all nations is the LORD;
above the heavens is his glory.
6 Who is like the LORD, our God, who
is enthroned on high
and looks upon the heavens and the
earth below?
 7 He raises up the lowly from the dust;
from the dunghill he lifts up the poor
8 to seat them with princes,
with the princes of his own people.
Commentary
 The psalm is a psalm of praise.
 Vv.1-2 urge everyone to praise the
Lord, to praise the name of the
Lord.
 Vv.4-6 give the reasons why we
should praise God.
 God is highly exalted. No one is
higher than he.
 He is king, enthroned up above.
 From his throne, he looks upon the
heavens and the earth and
humanity.
 Vv.7-8 recognize God as defender
of the poor and the lowly.

Reflections on the Psalm
 God is worthy of all our praises.
 He deserves all the honour and the
thanksgiving we give.
 Though he is high above, he looks after the
benefit of the poor and the oppressed.
 What kind of God do you worship?
 How do you worship him?

2nd
reading: 1 Timothy 2,1-8
 1 First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions,
and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, 2 for kings
and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and
tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. 3 This is good
and pleasing to God our savior, 4 who wills everyone to
be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth. 5 For
there is one God. There is also one mediator between
God and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human,
6 who gave himself as ransom for all. This was the
testimony at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed
preacher and apostle (I am speaking the truth, I am not
lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 It is
my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray,
lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.
The focus is on praying for others.

2nd
Prayers for everyone, for those in authority
 1 First of all, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and
thanksgivings be offered for everyone, 2 for kings and for all in
authority,
Purpose of prayers
 that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.
3 This is good and pleasing to God our savior, 4 who wills
everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.
Reason
 5 For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God
and the human race, Christ Jesus, himself human, 6 who gave
himself as ransom for all. This was the testimony at the proper
time.
Mission of Paul (writer)
 7 For this I was appointed preacher and apostle (I am speaking the
truth, I am not lying), teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 It
is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up
holy hands, without anger or argument.
A simple outline!

Textual Context of 1 Timothy 2,1-8
Salutation, 1,1-2
Attack on the theology of the heretics, 1,3-20
Manual for Church life, 2,1—3,16
The correct worship, 2,1-15
The correct clergy, 3,1-16
Attack on the ethics of the heretics, 4,1-11
Manual for church officers, 4,12—6,2
The danger of the world’s riches, 6,3-19
Anti-heretical ending, 6,20-21

2nd
Prayers for everyone, those in authority
 1 First of all, I ask that supplications,
prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings
be offered for everyone, 2 for kings
and for all in authority,
Purpose of prayers
 that we may lead a quiet and tranquil
life in all devotion and dignity. 3 This
is good and pleasing to God our
savior, 4 who wills everyone to be
saved and to come to knowledge of
the truth.
Reason
 5 For there is one God. There is also
one mediator between God and the
human race, Christ Jesus, himself
human, 6 who gave himself as
ransom for all. This was the
testimony at the proper time.
 7 For this I was appointed preacher
and apostle (I am speaking the truth,
I am not lying), teacher of the
Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 It is my
wish, then, that in every place the
men should pray, lifting up holy
hands, without anger or argument.
 In v.1, Paul solicits prayers from
Timothy (bishop of Ephesus) for
everyone, including kings and
those in authority (administrators).
Why?
 V.2 gives the reason why: to lead
a peaceful life. Those in authority
have the potential to wreck havoc
upon our communities (by their greed
and bad decisions).
 V.3 gives a comment if we have a
quiet life. It is God’s will.
 It is a sign of salvation. We come
to know the truth. V.4
 Main reason for praying: There
exists only one God, and only one
mediator Jesus Christ (not
anyone, not the king or the
powers-that-be). V.5
Commentary

2nd
Prayers for everyone, those in authority
 1 First of all, I ask that supplications,
prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings
be offered for everyone, 2 for kings
and for all in authority,
Purpose of prayers
 that we may lead a quiet and tranquil
life in all devotion and dignity. 3 This
is good and pleasing to God our
savior, 4 who wills everyone to be
saved and to come to knowledge of
the truth.
Reason
 5 For there is one God. There is also
one mediator between God and the
human race, Christ Jesus, himself
human, 6 who gave himself as
ransom for all. This was the
testimony at the proper time.
 7 For this I was appointed preacher
and apostle (I am speaking the truth,
I am not lying), teacher of the
Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 It is my
wish, then, that in every place the
men should pray, lifting up holy
hands, without anger or argument.
 V.6 indicates Christ’s heroism
(he became a ransom, a
payment to get us back to
God.)
 V.7 indicates the purpose of
Paul as a preacher, apostle
and teacher.
 V.8 contains the wish of Paul:
to pray without anger or
argument (resentment).

Reflections on the 2nd
reading
 It is important to pray for everyone and for those in
power.
 Praying is not just a form of piety, but a very powerful
means to make a strong statement.
 It is so irresponsible to pray only for our loved ones.
 Those in authority are prone to commit big errors and
injustices. They need our prayers.
 To pray is to submit ourselves to the one God and to
the one mediator Christ.
 In prayer, we Christians must be able to appreciate
Christ, our mediator, as our ransom (he acts as payment for
our debts, crimes and sins. He is more valuable than ransom
money which the kidnappers demand.)

Gospel reading: Luke 16,1-13
 1 Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a
steward who was reported to him for squandering
his property. 2 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.' 3 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. 4 I know what I shall do so that, when I
am removed from the stewardship, they may
welcome me into their homes.'

 5 He called in his master's debtors one by one.
To the first he said, 'How much do you owe my
master?' 6 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.' 7 Then to another he said, 'And you,
how much do you owe?' He replied, 'One
hundred kors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Here is
your promissory note; write one for eighty.' 8
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.

 9 I tell you, make friends for yourselves with
dishonest wealth, so that when it fails, you will be
welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10 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. 11 If, therefore, you are not
trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust
you with true wealth? 12 If you are not
trustworthy with what belongs to another, who
will give you what is yours? 13 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 God and mammon."

Gospel reading: Luke 16,1-13
Steward fired by his
employer
 1 Jesus said to his
disciples, "A rich man
had a steward who
was reported to him
for squandering his
property. 2 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.'
Commentary
 The steward here should be
understood in terms of the Palestinian
context of custom agents acting on
behalf of their masters / bosses and
their (agents’) usurious practices.
 In v.1, the agent squanders his
master’s property.
 Someone has reported his
wrongdoing.
 In v.2, the master believes in
the report.
 He asks his steward to give an
accounting before he is
dismissed.

Steward contemplating
how to survive
 3 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. 4 I know what I
shall do so that, when I
am removed from the
stewardship, they may
welcome me into their
homes.'
 In v.3, the steward
exercises some wisdom
in order to survive. He
knows his limitations.
 As an administrator, he
still knows how to
manage himself.
 In v. 4, he finds a
solution. He will find a
refuge in “their homes.”
 Whose homes?
 The homes of his
master’s debtors /
clients.

 5 He called in his
master's debtors one
by one.
1st
debtor
 To the first he said,
'How much do you
owe my master?' 6
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.'
2nd
debtor
 7 Then to another he
said, 'And you, how
much do you owe?'
He replied, 'One
hundred kors of
wheat.' He said to
him, 'Here is your
promissory note;
write one for eighty.'
 In v.5, the steward now acts on
his plan. Very systematic. He is
calculative.
 He calls on the first debtor.
 In v.6, 1 measure is equivalent
to 8 to 9 gallons. Big volume!
 The steward makes the debtor
happy by making him write down
50 instead of 100.
 In v.7, another debtor comes.
 The steward asks him to write
down 80 instead of 100.
 The steward also makes him
happy.

Comment of the master
 8 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.
 In v.8, God commends this “wise”
steward.
 Here, God seems to condone cheating
and dishonesty. (No! That’s not the point!)
 The squandering steward is now
considered dishonest.
 Nonetheless, God commends him for
acting prudently.
 Prudence here means acting wisely,
making nice moves.
 Take note of the saying “For the
children of this world are more
prudent….
 This is a critique to his disciples who do
not perform very well in their work.

Teachings of Jesus
On wealth
9 I tell you, make friends for
yourselves with dishonest
wealth (mammon of iniquity,
that which one trusts), so that
when it fails, you will be
welcomed into eternal
dwellings.
On being trustworthy
10 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. 11 If,
therefore, you are not
trustworthy with dishonest
wealth, who will trust you with
true wealth? 12 If you are not
trustworthy with what belongs
to another, who will give you
what is yours?
 V.9 picks up what the steward has
done.
 It clarifies what prudence is all
about.
 Make use of material things to win
friends. Don’t be selfish. You will
not have them for ever.
 Vv.10-12 are wisdom sayings to
live by.
 Don’t take for granted small
things. Show that you can be
trusted with small things. Then,
bigger things will be entrusted to
you.
 Make good of what is entrusted to
you, no matter how small. Do your
best to administer it according to
the owner’s mind. You are only
stewards. You cannot do whatever
you want. Respect the owner who
entrusts things to you.

On single-heartedness
13 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 God
and mammon.“
 V.13 teaches us to be single-hearted.
 We cannot combine God and
mammon.
 When we serve God, we must reject
mammon.
 Mammon (money, properties) is
anything that distracts us from God.
 Mammon makes our service to God
half-hearted.
 Mammon robs us of true and
wholehearted service to God.

Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
 The first reading protests against the unjust businessmen who are
manipulative and who take advantage of the poor.
 The psalm encourages us to give praise to God the Most High for
taking care of the poor and the disenfranchized.
 The second reading solicits prayers for those in authority so that
they may become just and not cause troubles in the land.
 The gospel reading talks about being true and faithful steward
(authority). Authority must be exercised with prudence.
Let us focus on stewardship.

How to develop your sharing / homily
 Have you been laid off by your employer? What are the
reasons?
 Some reasons for firing supervisors and employees:
 inefficient, no discipline, always late, hard headed, can’t follow
instructions, can’t deliver expected services, playing computer
games during work time, FB, Twitter, gossiping, sexual
harassment, etc.
 We must understand that even if we are employees
only, we are entrusted with a certain power and
authority.
 We are stewards, who should increase the goods
entrusted to us.

 In the first reading, Amos registers his protest
against the unscrupulous businessmen, who
take advantage of the poor.
 They abuse their authority (and knowledge) to
enrich themselves, by cheating and
manipulating the measuring units.
 They commodify people.
 They are abusive stewards.
 When we find situations like this, we must
protest like Amos.
 As stewards, we must not abuse what is
entrusted to us (authority, talent and money).

 In the second reading, St. Paul urges Timothy (and the
readers) to pray for the authorities (those in
governance), in order to have peace.
 St. Paul is aware that bad governance of authority can
wreck havoc to the church and to their constituents.
 It is not enough to protest.
 We must ask God to enlighten the minds of the greedy
politicians, foundations and NGOs.
 Cursing them does not help.
 We pray that they may truly become stewards of God’s
power and authority.

 The gospel teaches us how to be good stewards.
 The gospel advocates good governance and
administration, and faithful stewardship.
 No steward should in any way alter the purpose of his
master regarding his property. He should know his role
and limitations or else…
 The gospel also teaches prudence as a necessary
virtue to survive.
 Prudence is translated here as knowing how to make
friends, how to make use of your wealth, belongings,
property to establish good relationships.
 People will not allow you to eat and drink with them,
stay with them if you are wasteful, spendthrift or stingy.

 How do we servant leaders / ministers of the
church exercise our authority?
 Are we oppressive to the little ones? (1st
reading)
 Are we praying for those in authority higher
than we? (2nd
reading)
 Are we squandering our power (meaning not
exercising our authority, always absent, not
doing our homework well, not giving reports,
receipts, etc.?) (gospel)

 Christians should know how to exercise their
own authority, prudently, like the children of this
world.
 Jesus is a good model of responsible, loving
and prudent authority.
 Jesus gives priority to the needs of the poor.
Jesus challenges those in authority to behave
and act according to the will of God who gives
them authority.

 The eucharist is the sacrament proper to the just,
prayerful and responsible stewards.
 As God’s steward of his graces, Jesus gives himself to
us, good stewards, in the forms of bread and wine.
 In the eucharistic meal, Jesus welcomes us who have
been acting prudently and wisely.
 In the eucharist, Jesus still teaches how to share, how
to give way, how to be humble, and how to be prudent
and single-hearted servants.

Our Context of Sin and Grace
 Oppressive employers
 Lousy employees
 Politicians becoming
businessmen (vice-versa)
 No accountability
 Pork barrel, unscrupulous
NGOs and foundations
 Cartel
 Hoarding
 Unjust laws and systems
 Dictated by profit, not by the
common good
 Bad laws for the labor sector
 Common good
 Social conscience
 Social responsibility
 Social mortgage of goods
 Social justice
 Social Teachings of the
Church
 Responsibility to all
 Spirituality of Stewardship
 Church of the Poor

Suggested Songs
 Buhay Maging Maligaya
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh0VyqcYK3I
 Yesteryears’ Curse (slide to 1,13)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlKeY-Ikk2U
 Theme of Life
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NiqOkXYY0A
 Sigaw ng Bayan (slide to 3,05)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zEkfrEtvIE&p=98ABC779C201E81F
 Awit ng Maralita (slide to 1,03)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnQFF33WoI8
 Himig ng Paglaya (slide to ,55)
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjdANraq4eI

 Dear brothers and sisters,
 We are just stewards. We are not supposed to be
plunderers. Resign if you cannot be a good and
honest steward, before they kick you out.
 Fr. Cielo

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