Reflection for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; St. Luke 16:10-13

Everyone agrees that we need good leaders. What are the qualities you look for in a leader? Integrity, initiative, honesty, faith? To obtain and uphold the good leaders that we need, we should follow St. Paul’s advice to St. Timothy in today’s first reading:

“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.” ( 1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Have I prayed for those who have taken on the responsibility of serving the public?” Prayer works! Let us keep sending it upward.

One recent example is that of September 8, the birthday of Mary, patroness of our country; President Trump called for prayer for our nation in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of our founding–July 4, 2026. Two other examples are from the lives of two young Italian men from our own era.

The two young men who were canonized on September 7, actively supported by prayer, as well as by work and suffering, the leaders of their country and world. Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, son of a newspaper owner, was outspoken against Fascism. Saint Carlo Acutis was an international “digital evangelist” who offered his suffering from leukemia for the pope and Church.

Faithful friends, let’s renew our intention to offer our “prayers, petitions and thanksgivings” for leaders and for everyone, so that our lives will continue to be “good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.”

May our leaders and ourselves be among the Communion of Saints some day!

He raises up the lowly from the dust;

from the dunghill he lifts up the poor

to seat them with princes,

with the princes of his own people. (Psalm 113)