FAITHFUL WITH LITTLE, ENTRUSTED WITH MUCH

Homily for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Bible Readings: Gospel: Amos 8:4-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13

A story is told of a young man who was entrusted by his uncle with a small shop to manage. The uncle promised that if he proved faithful in little things like keeping records, serving customers with honesty, and protecting the little profit, he would hand over a larger store in the city. The young man was tempted at times to cut corners, but he resisted. Years later, he inherited not only the shop but his uncle’s entire business empire. His faithfulness in little matters prepared him for greater responsibility.

The Gospel today (Luke 16:1-13) brings us face to face with this same truth. Jesus tells the parable of the dishonest steward who, though wasteful, quickly acted with shrewdness when his position was threatened. Surprisingly, the master commended him not for his dishonesty but for his prudence and foresight. Jesus uses this to highlight a sad contrast: “The children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light.” In other words, worldly people often show more creativity, effort, and urgency in pursuing material gain than God’s children show in pursuing eternal life.

This parable is not an endorsement of dishonesty; rather, it is a call to spiritual seriousness. If the steward could think ahead to secure his earthly future, should we not think and act even more wisely to secure our eternal future? Jesus goes on to emphasize fidelity: “The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great.” Our little choices - honesty in daily dealings, integrity at work, faithfulness in prayer - are not small in God’s eyes. They are the proving ground for greater graces.

The first reading from the prophet Amos (Amos 8:4-7) directly confronts those who abuse their positions for profit. The merchants manipulated scales, cheated the poor, and even sold “the sweepings of the wheat.” God swears that He will not forget their injustices. This is a sobering reminder that dishonesty in business, corruption, and exploitation are not just social problems; they are sins that cry out to heaven. The stewardship we have received from God - whether money, authority, or influence - is never for self-enrichment alone but for service, justice, and the common good.

St. Paul in the second reading (1 Timothy 2:1-8) adds another layer: our stewardship is not only material but spiritual. We are stewards of prayer and intercession. Paul exhorts that “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, especially kings and all in authority.” Faithful stewardship means lifting up others before God, especially those with responsibility for the common good, so that society may live in peace. Prayer is part of our Christian responsibility as much as honesty in work is.

Bringing these readings together, we see a consistent message: life is a stewardship. Nothing we have is ultimately ours - not our money, not our talents, not even our time. All are gifts entrusted to us for a purpose. The question is not how much we have but how faithfully we use it. Will our daily choices show that we serve God, or will they reveal that we are slaves of money? Jesus makes the choice clear: “You cannot serve both God and mammon.”

Dear friend, today’s Word calls us to examine our fidelity in small things. Are we trustworthy in our dealings with people? Do we handle money with integrity? Do we pray faithfully even when nobody is watching? Do we remember the poor, the needy, and those who rely on us? If we are faithful in these small matters, God will entrust us with the true riches - eternal life.

Let us, then, be wise stewards - not like the dishonest servant who sought only short-term survival, but as children of light who seek the Kingdom of God above all things. For in the end, it is not wealth, power, or influence that will matter, but whether we have been found faithful.