Podcasts about year c

Episode 150: 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C In today's episode, our main focus will be on the second reading for this upcoming 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C, taken from 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14. There are couple of details that we will focus one. One relates to the topic of Apostolic Succession. The other relates to Sacred Tradition. The Gospel reading, taken from Luke 17:5-10, does provide us a detail worthy reflecting on, but it is not apologetical in nature even though it can help us in our apologetics ministry. Hey everyone, Welcome to The Sunday Catholic Word, a podcast where we reflect on the upcoming Sunday Mass readings and pick out the details that are relevant for explaining and defending our Catholic faith. I'm Dr. Karlo Broussard, staff apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers, and the host for this podcast. In today's episode, our main focus will be on the second reading for this upcoming 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C, taken from 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14. There are couple of details that we will focus one. One relates to the topic of Apostolic Succession. The other relates to Sacred Tradition. The Gospel reading, taken from Luke 17:5-10, does provide us a detail worthy reflecting on, but it is not apologetical in nature even though it can help us in our apologetics ministry. Here’s the second reading, 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14. Paul writes, Beloved: I remind you, to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord, nor of me, a prisoner for his sake; but bear your share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. Take as your norm the sound words that you heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard this rich trust with the help of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us. The first detail that I want to highlight is Paul's statement, “the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.” There's a considerable amount of debate surrounding this passage as it relates to Apostolic Succession. And that's what I'd like to focus on. For some Catholics, this passage is clear-cut evidence for Apostolic Succession—the idea that the apostles ordained others to succeed them in the apostolic ministry. Paul speaks of a “gift” given to Timothy, which would seem to be a reference to the indelible mark that's given in priestly ordination. Paul also says that this gift was given through “the imposition of hands,” which would also fit with the Catholic understanding of priestly ordination. So what should we make of this interpretation? Well, let's first take the appeal to the “gift.” I don't think this refers specifically to the character or mark that's given in priestly ordination. The reason is that such a character, in the words of R. J. Foster in A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture, “would have no need of being revived and is incapable of diminution or decline” (pg. 1148). Rather, it seems to be a reference to what theologians call “the grace of a calling,” actual graces that a minister has access to for the sake of fulfilling the duties that the office requires. Foster argues this is evidenced by Paul adding, “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” Now, this doesn't mean this is not a reference to priestly ordination, since “the grace of a calling” comes with the priestly ordination. And that it is a reference to Timothy's priestly ordination is strongly supported by this “gift” being given through the “imposition of hands.” We have to be careful, however, with our appeal to the imposition of hands. The “laying on of hands” has multiple meanings in the Bible. Curtis Mitch and Scott Hahn give a nice list in their Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: It's a gesture used to perform healings (Mark 16:18), confer bles

For the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on the size of our faith. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on the size of our faith. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Year C, Proper 22, Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost

Year C, Proper 22, Seventeenth Sunday After PentecostExamen Questions:Am I becoming more or less easily irritated these days?Am I becoming more or less loving these days?

Year C, Proper 22, 17th Sunday After Pentecost

Do you crave praise? In this week's gospel text, Jesus talks about simply doing one's duty without expecting any additional reward. The job itself is the reward. Jonathan and Seth discuss why we might still want praise, but what it looks like not to need it. What does it look like to find contentment in what we're doing? How do we balance commendation and criticism? Is there anything that students and teachers can illuminate for us about that balance? We're glad you're with us! There are multiple "weird" texts in the lectionary, and I (Seth) think this is one of them. If you'd like to talk more about it, email is; we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Send us a textJoin Fr. Aaron & Marissa Burt for this week's episode, in which they consider the readings for Proper 22, the Sunday between 10/2-10/8: Habakkuk 1:1-13, 2:1-4; Psalm 37:1-17; 2 Timothy 1:1-14; Luke 17:5-10.They discuss Habakkuk's lament over violence, the Psalmist's reminder to feed on faithfulness and integrity rather than frustration and anger, and Jesus' story about unprofitable servants.Mentioned in the episode:--The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible--Beth Moore's Entrusted Bible study on 2 Timothy--Canterbury House offerings--Link to sermon for Proper 21 we mentionedNotes:--Dwell App--Prayers of the People for Pentecost--2019 Book of Common PrayerPentecost: A Day of Power for All People, by: Emilio AlvarezThe Bible ProjectThe Bible Project video on 2 TimothyThe Bible Project video on Habakkuk1:16 Collect1:45 Habakkuk 1:1-13, 2:1-424:45 Psalm 37:1-1740:57 2 Timothy 1:1-1452:50 Luke 17:5-10 Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.

Enough is enough! We can hesitate. We can procrastinate. We can make excuses. The reality is, like Jesus' first disciples, we have what we need to get the job done. You know... the one we committed to when we became disciples ourselves. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a look at today's passage from the Gospel of Luke. See if you look at the scripture from a more pastoral perspective or from a more, dare we say, realistic perspective. Could it be that sometimes Jesus just wants to knock some sense into us? Listen to more Coffee to Go episodes.  Download TranscriptThanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

The more we have, the more we think we need. The more we give away, the more we realize how we actually need less!Homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

We can't grow and be comfortable at the same time; Jesus wants to use our suffering to reveal what He wants to heal and draw us closer to Himself.Homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Homily for the 26th Sunday of the Year (C)

Lectionary 26, Year C (16th Sunday after Pentecost)

Year C – 16th Sunday after Pentecost; Lectionary 26 – September 28, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd Luke 16:19-31   Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, who, together with Moses and the prophets, has given us the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen. *** My friend Sara has a wild yard. And I do mean… wild. She moved into her quiet, suburban neighborhood some years ago, and to her neighbor's dismay… she didn't mow the lawn. It's the kind of yard you might expect to see out in the country… way out… around an abandoned house… but certainly not in her manicured neighborhood… And oh my goodness, did it cause an uproar! The neighbors couldn't understand why she kept such an untidy lawn, and they glared out their living room windows, casting judgment on her… and filed complaints with the city. She had to petition for the right to let the grass and dandelions grow… and for the leaves to fall where the wind blew… and let them stay there. She asked her neighbors… to trust the process… And she won! …well, sort of… I believe they struck a deal that if she kept the area around the front clear, she could do what she wished with the rest, which was fine… because her backyard is massive. The first year, it was just a mess… chaos everywhere! Even the grass was confused. But then… after about a year or so had gone by… after the neighbors had mostly made their peace with my friend Sara's “process…” They noticed something they hadn't seen in years… one warm summer evening… they saw… Fireflies! …Lightning Bugs! Little glowing lights, twinkling, and blinking, and flying around… and the neighbors marveled! ...One of Sara's neighbors told her that she hadn't seen fireflies since she was a child! How extraordinary and delightful! …and once they noticed the fireflies, well then… then they started noticing other little things. They noticed all the butterflies that would stop and visit Sara's wild yard. Beautiful and colorful, graceful butterflies… floating all around. They noticed that a fox had moved into the grove of trees in her backyard, and it was safe and secure enough for it to have little fox pups. And the trees! Even the trees seemed fuller… brighter… like they could finally breathe. And the grass… the grass that was so confused…well, it was no longer just plain grass… but a blanket of all different shades of green, full, tall, and strong, and filled with wildflowers. …and of course, happy, buzzy bees, gathering pollen. My friend Sara's wild yard… was no longer a yard… it was a garden, in the most natural sense of the word. It still required some tending… a bit of care here and there, but her care was directed toward increasing the garden's habitability for the diversity of plants and creatures that now lived there, including …herself. And she tends this garden because the fireflies, and the butterflies, and the bees, and the family of foxes… need this space… They are all important… all the little creatures that might go unnoticed by some and considered a nuisance by others… all connected to each other, and connected to Sara and her family… in the great web of God's Creation. Sara's garden is the resource she has available to share with her neighbors, both human and otherwise, and in doing so, she is helping to heal the small sliver of God's beautiful kingdom, right where she stands. And… her wild and full garden brings her joy! Now… you may be asking… why am I talking about natural gardens in suburban neighborhoods… after hearing a gospel text that is clearly about money? Well! I'm so glad you asked! And you're right… this text today is about money… but ultimately… ultimately, it's about relationships… and connection. Remember our text from last week about the rich man and his shrewd manager? Jesus ends that parable with the mic-drop statement… “You cannot serve both God and wealth… or rather… Mammon.” And the Pharisees are indignant… they like their wealth and comfort, and they scoff at Jesus and ridicule him for challenging them in this way. And so Jesus doubles down… and tells the Pharisees this next parable that we heard today. Today's text is part of the larger conversation that we've been in now for three weeks. And yes… Jesus is talking about money again… Jesus talks about money a lot, actually… and what our responsibility is when we have an abundance of resources. But, I feel like I hit that point really hard last week, so this week, I wanted to dig into the why… why is it so important… that we take Jesus at his word? So, this parable we have today… it's a fable, really… Jesus is not suddenly giving us a description of heaven and hell… but he is telling a cautionary tale and drawing from the imagery of Greek mythology to do so. And in this tale, the rich man was so caught up in his own perceived earthly importance… that he never really noticed poor Lazarus, who lay at his gate, covered in sores. He saw him, of course, but the shock of his need was no longer… shocking. The rich man even knew his name was Lazarus… and yet, day after day, while the rich man feasted sumptuously, poor Lazarus lay there starving. The chasm between them… the chasm that becomes a real barrier in the place of the dead… was self-imposed by the rich man during his life. And then… of course… they both die… and the rich man, in his agony, asks Abraham to send Lazarus to serve him… and to serve his brothers. Even in death, the rich man thinks he deserves something better on account of his wealth. Even in death, the rich man cannot recognize that they are both children of Abraham… they are connected… they are brothers through the great web of God's Creation. As long as the rich man is unable to see poor Lazarus as a brother, who is worthy of life and love and care, and connected to him through God… as long as the rich man is unable to see this… he will remain in the place of the dead. Jesus is, once again, flipping everything upside down. Jesus is challenging the idea that if you have money, you must be more valuable and loved by God. This terrible idea is one that is still prevalent today… the idea that those who have earthly treasure are more blessed… more favored and loved by God… …and that those who are poor must have done something to deserve their lot in life. And while it is true, that our individual choices in life do have some bearing on what we experience… This way of thinking conveniently absolves us of any responsibility toward those who have not fared as well as we have… And it is directly contrary… to what God has been trying to get us to understand since the time of Moses. We have free will, yes, but we are all… also part of larger systems beyond our individual control. Like the butterflies and bees who find their food sources and habitats either covered in chemicals or gone… or the fireflies whose eggs get swept away in the fall clean-up… some things are beyond our control. We don't know why Lazarus was forced to beg at the rich man's gate… but we know that the chasm between them was very real… as real as it is in our world today. And yet… we know… that Jesus came to bring good news to the poor and to liberate the oppressed. Over and over, Jesus preaches that his ministry was not to engage in personal relationships with individuals as their Lord and savior… but to show us that we are connected! …that our true flourishing is caught up with our neighbors! Jesus came to show us that we belong to each other, and we have a responsibility to each other… each according to what we have been given. Jesus came to show us that his ministry of breaking the chains of oppression means to break the systems that perpetuate that oppression. Jesus' ministry requires us, as followers, to engage and embrace this work that God is doing through us. We belong to each other, and Jesus desires to give us the kingdom… to show us the way to the kingdom of heaven. And God's kingdom… well, it looks like a beloved community of neighborly care and love, in both abstract and concrete ways. It comes from shared respect and dignity… it comes from equality in both word and deed. It comes from the intentionality of really seeing our neighbors who are in need, instead of passing them by and wondering why they don't just get a job. And Jesus… he was doubling down on the teachings of Moses and the prophets, because through them, God had already shown us the way to this beautiful kingdom… This beautiful kingdom of God… is at hand… heaven is being formed here! Being formed, more and more, as we conform our lives to the way of Christ! The kingdom of God… is not a reward for checking all the boxes during your life… It's not a cookie you get for being a good kid. The kingdom of God is a garden… it's a garden that needs tending… a garden that needs the space and freedom to grow and support the full diversity of life… The kingdom of God is a garden that honors all life as sacred. Friends, we are here now, in this garden… and Jesus longs for us to recognize that we have a responsibility to tend this garden, and that when we do… we will flourish together. Is it perfect?  NO!… not by a long shot. But let's trust the process… let's keep showing up for our neighbors, and… let our neighbors show up for us… Let's look into the eyes of those who are passed by, those who are poor and begging… those who society would like to forget… and recognize them as our kin, and honor God's Spirit within them… Let's recognize that all people are our siblings and celebrate their value and worth… and delight in all the ways we are privileged to participate in God's great web of creation. For I know this… God has given us the instruction and the tools we need to tend this garden… to deconstruct the chasm that isolates and sterilizes our world. And I trust God's process… and I trust God's promise… that we are being called into God's life-changing and transformative ministry. I'll be honest… I don't think that we will see it fully bloom in our lifetimes, but I know… that when I live according to God's word… and I pay attention, I see fireflies dancing all around in this garden, and that gives me hope. Amen.

Here is my homily from Sept. 28, 2025, 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. See the readings at usccb.org.

On fancy backpacks, fine merino briefs and the responsibilities of the global rich. Reflecting on Luke 16:19-31 with Manningham Uniting Church, 28 September 2025 (Proper 21 Year C).

This parable is a wake-up call to see that each and every man and woman is a child of God, and therefore my brother, my sister. Awareness can be the first step in conversion.About the Speaker: Father William J Grimm is a Maryknoll Missioner of 40 year's experience in Asia-mostly Japan, Hong Kong and Cambodia.For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.com  For news in and about the Church in Asia, visit www.ucanews.comTo contribute please visit www.ucanews.com/donateOn Twitter Follow Or Connect through DM at : twitter.com/ucanewsTo view Video features please visit https://www.youtube.com/@ucanews

Year C, Proper 21, Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Year C, Proper 21, Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

2 Thessalonians 1:1–4, 11–12 ♦ 2 Thessalonians 2:1–5, 13–17 ♦ 2 Timothy 3:14–4:5 ♦ Colossians 1:11–20...

Send us a textGospel: Luke 16 : 19 -31 

Year C, Proper 21, Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Greetings and thank you for listening and, perhaps, sharing my Gospel reflection for this week.God bless.Fr. Kennedy

Year C, Proper 21, Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Episode 4201 features Rev. Jody Andrade (Presbytery of Greater Atlanta) with “Dinner with a Prophet,” on Jeremiah 32:1–3a, 6–15. Let's be honest—Jeremiah is the last person you'd invite to a cozy dinner party. He's intense, unfiltered, and not much for small talk. Yet Rev. Andrade reminds us that around his table we find the real feast: truth-telling, inconvenient hope, and the call to love our neighbors with courage. On this 17th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 22, Year C), we invite you to pull up a chair!

Year C, Proper 21, 16th Sunday After Pentecost

Send us a textJoin Fr. Aaron & Marissa Burt for this week's episode, in which they consider the readings for Proper 21, the Sunday between 9/11-9/17: Amos 6:1-7; Psalm 146; 1 Timothy 6:11-19; Luke 16:19-31.They discuss Amos' woes to the complacent, the Psalmist's hope in God, Paul's exhortation to contentment, and Jesus' parable of Lazarus and Dives.Mentioned in the episode:--The NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study BibleNotes:--Dwell App--Prayers of the People for Pentecost--2019 Book of Common PrayerPentecost: A Day of Power for All People, by: Emilio AlvarezAudio Sermons for Advent AnglicanThe Bible ProjectThe Bible Project video on 1 TimothyThe Bible Project video on Amos1:14 Collect1:52 Amos 6:1-714:06 Psalm 14621:28 1 Timothy 6:11-1934:48 Luke 16:19-31 Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.

Proper 21 (26) Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Year C, 2024-2025)Scripture Readings: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16, Amos 6:1a, 4-7, Psalm 146, 1 Timothy 6:6-19, Luke 16:19-31

How do we use our skills and resources for "Kingdom purposes?" This week on "Coffee to Go," we're talking about money, blessing, and the political implications of the Gospel with two challenging parables from the book of Luke. The discussion centers on the themes of financial stewardship, social justice, and radical discipleship. Blake and Karin question the notion that financial success is a divine blessing, instead suggesting that true blessings lie in using one's skills and resources for "Kingdom purposes" and serving the marginalized. Tune in to explore what it means to be a radical disciple and put your faith into action. Download TranscriptThanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

Lectionary 25, Year C (15th Sunday after Pentecost)

Year C – 15th Sunday after Pentecost; Lectionary 25 – September 21, 2025 Pastor Megan Floyd Luke 16:1-13   Grace and peace to you from God and the Holy Spirit, and from Jesus Christ, who, together, offer liberation through reorientation. Amen. *** Jesus says… we cannot serve both God and wealth. …and yet, it is as true today as it was then… that both God and wealth, or Mammon, demand to be our top priority. These words from Jesus are convicting… we cannot serve both God and wealth… they are convicting… because we know in our heart… they are true. …and Jesus… well… he tends to be right. That's why we're here, yes? I actually prefer the old translation… instead of wealth, the original Greek uses the Aramaic word, Mammon. Mammon is a personification for the acquisition of wealth… something Martin Luther called in the Large Catechism, the “most common god on earth.” So, it isn't so much wealth or money alone… that demands our dedication… Jesus doesn't criticize wealthy people just for being wealthy… and money is a tool we all must use. But it's the pursuit of money for the sake of getting richer that Jesus condemns… it's the drive to store up more and more at the expense of others, the persistent need to acquire more and more that takes over our lives. To build bigger barns while others are starving… and then to rationalize our greed and overabundance… this is the Mammon that Jesus warns us against. To worship Mammon is to prioritize the accumulation of wealth… while disregarding the suffering and needs of others. Mammon demands that we look only to our own wants and desires, acquiring only for ourselves alone. Mammon is… isolating. God… on the other hand… demands that we put God above all else, and then look to our neighbor… God invites us to look through the lens of God's love… and look to the needs of our neighbor first… so that we may flourish together… through relationship and in community. We cannot serve both God and Mammon. So… to illustrate this point… Jesus offers a rather strange parable. And all the authors I've read seem to agree that this one is just weird and challenging. It helps, I think, to dig into the context… and recall the economics of Roman-occupied Galilee in the first century. Remember… that the Roman Empire exploited the people's resources and labor through crippling taxation, which was often more than the average peasant could pay. And the rich landlords and rulers were basically loan sharks who got richer by exploiting peasants… offering loans to pay their taxes, but with exorbitant interest rates, something that was in direct violation of biblical covenantal law. So, when the peasants couldn't pay back the loans, the rich would take ownership of their farm, disinheriting the peasant farmers of their family land… But they would “graciously” allow the peasants to stay on as tenant farmers… who now had to pay both taxes to the Roman government AND a high percentage of their yield to the rich new landowner. So… the rich got richer… and the poor got poorer. It was… an unjust system. Furthermore, the rich tended to live in the south, around Judea… while the peasant farmers lived in the north, around Galilee. The rich landowners wouldn't go back and forth themselves… that could be dangerous, so they utilized middle managers to collect their spoils. These managers would also add to the debt that the farmers owed, because that's how they got paid… and the more they added, the more money they made for themselves. It was the manager's prerogative to squeeze these poor farmers out of as much of their crops… as much of their wheat, wine, and olive oil as possible. The farmers were, after all, expendable… all that mattered was gaining more wealth. Mammon. And so now here we are… Jesus' teaching… his words for us today continue on from the gospel from last week. Last week's scene opened with the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, grumbling because this man, Jesus, welcomes sinners and eats with them. Jesus put people over and above social order and expectations. So, he tells the grumbling Pharisees these parables… There was a lost sheep… there was a lost coin… there was a lost son. And then comes our text for today… “There was a rich man who had a manager…” “There was a rich man… who had a manager.” Does it ring a little differently now? This manager is about to get fired for squandering his boss' property… he's in trouble for not delivering as much as the rich man thought he should have. He's about to be tossed out on his butt with nothing… so what does he do? What does he do? Once the hold of Mammon is broken… he has clarity! He realizes… that what he needs in his life are people. Mammon… the pursuit of wealth… drives people away. But for true flourishing… we need community. Money isn't the ultimate measure of things… not in God's economy! Our neighbor… our relationships and our community… this is where true riches are found. But… this guy… this middle-manager… he's still locked in an unjust system… he's still trapped by it, just as much as the poor farmers are still trapped… but he realizes… he realizes that generosity is the best investment. He uses that ill-gotten wealth, gained from exploiting others, to ease the debt burden on his neighbors, and gain social capital in the process. It's very possible that the amounts he reduced each person's debt by was the amount of his portion, and the interest that was added onto it. Because… after all, the rich man is ultimately impressed. His manager chose to forego wealth… for the riches of relationships. He used the last remaining shreds of power he had to disrupt the unjust system… and revive the community by reviving biblical, covenantal economic life. He revives the community and gives them hope… by reorienting himself back to God's command to love God above everything else… and to love our neighbor. He is liberated from Mammon… set free from the addictive nature of chasing after wealth and hoarding resources at the expense of his neighbors' well-being. And he is transformed… restored into community when he realizes that people matter so much more than money. Because in God's economy… your neighbor's needs are bound up with your own. (x 2) Our own true flourishing and riches can only be achieved by working for the well-being of others. We cannot serve both God and Mammon. And that's that. Jesus leaves some loose ends in this parable… there's no epilogue… no discourse where Jesus fully explains its meaning to his disciples, who never seem to understand anyway. We are simply left with the wondering… left with the open question of “how much more…” If even this dishonest manager can realize that relationships and people are more important than chasing after money… then… how much more… should the children of light realize that “true riches” have to do with relationships rather than wealth or possessions. How much more? You see… Jesus never says that having money is bad… or criticizes wealthy people for being wealthy. What matters for Jesus… is what you do with that wealth. What Jesus says… is that when we reorient ourselves back to God and God's commandments… when we love God above all else, and love our neighbor as ourselves… Then it changes our relationships. Our relationships with our neighbors are transformed when we realize that we are all connected… and every person is valuable to the community, and that every person is loved by God. And… reorienting ourselves back to God… changes our relationship with money. Rather than allowing money to become an idol… we understand that money is a tool, and we can use it to help others, so that together, we are blessed. Here's a beautiful example… in my old church, the men's group met monthly on a Saturday to make homemade bread and have breakfast together. …No agenda, other than spending time together and making delicious bread. Then they'd offer that fresh, homemade bread to the congregation and collect a free-will offering… and… I know they always held back a few loaves for the single mom who was getting by on pennies. Finally, they used the money they raised to fund microloans through a non-profit program called Kiva, which offers very low—or no-interest loans for entrepreneurs in underserved communities worldwide. As the loans were paid back, which they always were, the men reinvested the funds in other people, giving more and more people the boost they needed to help themselves and their communities. The more they gave away, the more they found they were richly blessed, and they always seemed to have more to give… more to invest in people. And so, out of their abundance, they also regularly gave to our youth program, and to our food ministry… and to so many other ministries. These men were quietly committed to sharing as much as they could, and they delighted in watching how their investments in people always brought returns. Blessing others and investing their money in helping to heal unjust economic systems… was a true joy for them… and their joy was our joy! And this gospel today… this challenging piece of good news… is also a source of joy. Because Jesus came to bring good news to the poor… to set the oppressed free, to restore us to each other… and to liberate us from the bondage of our sin… and Mammon… Mammon is a big one. But Jesus does not leave us to the destruction of our sin… Jesus calls us back, time and time again… back to God and to the source of our salvation. Jesus reminds us that we are commanded to serve only one God, who is above all other gods. A God who loves us and has given us the way of everlasting life… who liberates us… and points us toward the true richness found in relationships and community. So, love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul, and all your mind… and love your neighbor as yourself. Trust in the good news of Jesus and in God's commands. Do this… and you will be richly blessed. Amen. _________________________________________________________________________ Notes: www.kiva.org Commentary on Luke 16:1-13, by Barbara Rossing, on www.WorkingPreacher.org Commentary on Luke 16:1-13, by Mary Schertz, September 2007 issue of Christian Century  

Here is my homily from Sept. 21, 2025, 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. See the readings at usccb.org.

Year C, Proper 20, Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Year C, Proper 20, Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost*I'm sorry this was posted late!

Greetings to all.  Thank you for listening!God bless.Fr. Kennedy

For the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on what we owe God. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

For the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on what we owe God. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Year C, Proper 20, Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Year C, Proper 20, Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Year C, Proper 20, Fifteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Join Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina as he explores the Mass Readings for the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.Mass Readings:Exodus 17;8-13Psalm 121Luke 18;1-8"A Walk in The Word" podcast is a weekly bible study and reflection on the Sunday Mass readings led by International Catholic evangelist and bible teacher, Hector Molina.PODCAST HOMEPAGE: https://awalkintheword.buzzsprout.comYOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/hectormolinacatholicevangelistSupport: Are you enjoying these videos? Become a Patron and partner with me in spreading the Good News! www.patreon.com/hectormolina/You can also show your support for the podcast by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/hectormolina#twentyninthsundayinordinarytime #29thsundayinordinarytime #parableofthepersistentwidow #thepersistenwidow #parableoftheunjustjudge #persistenprayer #praywithoutceasing #sundaymassreadings #catholiclectionary #catholic #sundaygospel #sundaygospelreflection #catholicbiblestudy #awalkintheword#catholicpodcast #bibleinayear #wordonfire #sundayhomily #hectormolina

Send us a textJoin Fr. Aaron & Marissa Burt for this week's episode, in which they consider the readings for Proper 20, the Sunday between 9/11-9/17: Amos 8:4-12; Psalm 138; 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (8-15); Luke 16:1-13.They discuss Amos' prophetic warning against greed & exploitation, Paul's exhortation to prayer, and Jesus' parable of the shrewd manager.Mentioned in the episode:--International Justice Mission--The Justice of Jesus: Reimagining Your Church's Life Together to Pursue Liberation and Wholeness, by: Joash Thomas--The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church can Create a New Way Forward, by: Malcolm Foley--The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural World of the Bible, by: Michael S. Heiser--Nobody's Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament, by: Sandra L. Glahn--The Eden Podcast with Bruce FlemingNotes:--Dwell App--Prayers of the People for Pentecost--2019 Book of Common PrayerPentecost: A Day of Power for All People, by: Emilio AlvarezAudio Sermons for Advent AnglicanThe Bible ProjectThe Bible Project video on 1 TimothyThe Bible Project video on Amos1:02 Collect1:44 Amos 8:4-1229:02 Psalm 13838:44 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (8-15)59:58 Luke 16:1-13 Our outro music is an original song by our friend Dcn. Jeremiah Webster, a poet and professor whose giftedness is rivaled by his humbleness. You can find his published works, including After So Many Fires, with a quick Google.

Celebrating is always fun, but it's even better when shared with family and friends. In today's passage from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus intervenes amidst criticism from religious leaders for dining with sinners and tax collectors, whom society considered traitors. Through parables of a shepherd finding his lost sheep and a woman recovering a lost coin, Jesus illustrates the joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents compared to 99 righteous individuals. And, in both stories, a crowd is invited to join in the celebration that ensues. Download TranscriptThanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered!Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Music © 2006 Brian Mann, admin. General Board of Global Ministries t/a GBGMusik, 458 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308. copyright@umcmission.org “The Trees of the Field,” Community of Christ Sings # 645, Music © 1975 Stuart Dauerman, Lillenas Publishing Company (admin. Music Services). All music for this episode was performed by Dr. Jan Kraybill, and produced by Chad Godfrey. NOTE: The series that make up Faith Unfiltered explore the unique spiritual and theological gifts Community of Christ offers for today's world. Although Faith Unfiltered is a Ministry of Community of Christ. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those speaking and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Community of Christ.

Year C, Holy Cross

Year C, Holy Cross

For the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. reflects on the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross for us. Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources. Listen to Fr. Frank's more of weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

Year C, Holy Cross

Year C, Holy Cross