Homily for September 21, 2025

When St. Paul is writing to Timothy,   it’s not b/c things were going marvelously in Ephesus.   Quite the opposite; just read in b/w the lines:   I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.   If Paul suggests praying for the civil leaders in authority   to live a quiet and tranquil life,   it’s precisely b/c the Christian Ephesian community is not at peace.   There is persecution b/c they follow the Way—Jesus Christ Himself—and they didn’t know Him.

John 1 tells us that Jesus was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him.   He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.   Jesus was unknown by His own Creation!   Paul had to personally wrestle with this reality when he heard a voice from heaven asking: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?   He replies, Who are you, sir?   I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.   To persecute Christians (b/c they are Christians) is to persecute Jesus Himself, Who said, Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If someone disagrees with us when we speak Jesus/when we defend the Truth,   they’re not disagreeing with me,   they’re disagreeing with Jesus Himself (provided we’re not yelling or giving them reasons to be upset at me, ofc).   I think St. Paul could very well have written this letter to America today:   I ask that all supplications, prayers, and petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone,   for [the president, for every governor, senator, mayor] and for all in authority.   Praying for our leaders is a basic tenet in our Catholic social teaching.

Pope Francis constantly called us to a culture of listening, yet we live in a society that does not know peaceful dialogue.   More than ever, we need to pray for those in authority—whether we like them or not.   They have a significant role in our society and need our prayers   that they may recognize their Creator/the One that John the Baptist came proclaiming but that the world did not know.

The recently canonized 15-yo St. Carlo Acutis, said: “Sadness is looking at ourselves,   happiness is looking towards God.”   By praying for our civil leaders,   we look to God—not to ourselves and our sad state of affairs.   Raising our eyes to God, we see blessedness/hopefulness/and joy.   In our prayer, we are not only asking for change in others;   we are open to change within ourselves, too!   St. Paul’s goal in mind is for Timothy’s Christian community to live in peace.   But those heartfelt prayers have a deeper hope that doesn’t only look at themselves    the hope that public officials and any unbelieving neighbors may be drawn to Jesus & be saved—all stemming from their prayer and lived example.

This is what Jesus meant when He said, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves;   so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.   In the Gospel parable today of the unjust steward,    Jesus isn’t endorsing misusing the goods of others or abuse someone’s trust.   The master both recognized that the steward was dishonest yet acted prudently for his personal goal—he acted astutely and shrewdly as a serpent.   Now imagine if his goal wasn’t so self-seeking;   imagine if that same audacity was used to help those who are most at risk in our society!

Ultimately, the ones who are most severely affected are those with no voice—the immigrant, the unborn, the homeless, the addicts. That’s the warning of the prophet Amos: Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land! ... The LORD has sworn by the pride of Jacob: Never will I forget a thing they have done!   God Himself declared: For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me… Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.   But when we speak up the Truth, seeking justice for the most marginalized,   and our officials turn the other way,   it is Christ whom they are persecuting.

The most astute, shrewd, and simple tactic is one of prayer, selflessness, and love.   No amount of anger can resist true gentleness and kindness   b/c they are the power of Christ.   Being angry at politicians & those in authority is not going to make things better;   praying for them, being kind and gentle to them (and those who support them) has much better possibilities.   But we don’t just pray, wash our hands, and call it a day.   If prayer is to take root, we must take part in it.

Can my family see Jesus by my actions?   Would someone have a hard time telling if my master was money or God?    I give you a new commandment: love one another.   As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.   This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.   That is most cunning and devastating of weapons we have: love.   We love because he first loved us.