Catholic Homily for October 22, 2025
Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Luke 12:39–48
When something is new and exciting, it’s easy to be faithful. When people are watching, it’s natural to do the right thing. But what happens when the newness wears off? What happens when no one is looking? What happens when we have to wait longer than we expected?
Time tests fidelity. Delay exposes the heart.
Two Stories, One Lesson
Jesus tells two related stories to make the same point:
Story 1: The Householder and the Thief
The first story is simple:
- A homeowner knows that thieves break in when people aren’t expecting them
- If he knew exactly when a thief was coming, he’d be ready
- Since he doesn’t know the time, he has to stay alert all the time
Jesus’ point: You have to be ready for My return at all times because you don’t know when it will happen.
Story 2: The Faithful and Unfaithful Servants
This story is more detailed and hits closer to home:
The Situation:
- A master leaves his household in the care of a steward (manager)
- The steward’s job is to make sure everyone gets fed properly and on time
- The master will return, but nobody knows exactly when
The Faithful Servant:
- Continues doing his job well even when the master is away
- Feeds the household properly and on schedule
- When the master returns, he finds everything running smoothly
- The master rewards him with even greater responsibility
The Unfaithful Servant:
- Starts out okay, but then changes when the master doesn’t return quickly
- Says to himself, “My master is delayed – I have time to do what I want”
- Begins to beat the other servants and drink excessively
- When the master suddenly returns, he’s caught in his bad behavior
- The master punishes him severely
The Real Issue: Trust with Responsibility
Jesus isn’t primarily talking about guessing when the end of the world will come. The real issue is much more practical:
It’s Not About Fear, But Faithfulness:
- You don’t stay faithful because you’re scared of getting caught
- You stay faithful because you’re trustworthy
- Real integrity means doing the right thing whether anyone is watching or not
It’s Not About Guessing the Hour, But Doing the Duty:
- You don’t need to know God’s timeline to do God’s will
- Focus on what you’re supposed to be doing today, not on predicting the future
- Faithfulness in daily responsibilities is what matters
The Key Verse:
“Blessed is that servant whom his master finds at work when he comes.”
The servant isn’t blessed for guessing the right time – he’s blessed for being found doing his job.
The Principle of Responsibility
Jesus ends with a crucial principle:
“To whom much is given, much will be required.”
What This Means:
Greater Gifts = Greater Responsibility:
- If God has given you talents, He expects you to use them well
- If you have been given opportunities, you’re accountable for how you use them
- If you have knowledge of right and wrong, you’re held to a higher standard
Greater Knowledge = Greater Accountability:
- The person who knows what the master wants but doesn’t do it gets a worse punishment
- The person who doesn’t know gets a lighter punishment
- Ignorance is sometimes an excuse, but willful disobedience never is
We Have Been Given Much
Let’s be honest about what we’ve received:
The Word:
- We have the Bible – God’s written revelation
- We have access to teachings, sermons, and spiritual resources
- We know what God wants from us
The Sacraments:
- We have Baptism – our entrance into God’s family
- We have the Eucharist – spiritual nourishment for the journey
- We have access to God’s grace through the Church
Time:
- We have days, hours, and moments to serve God and others
- We have opportunities every day to choose right over wrong
- We have a lifetime to grow in holiness
Influence:
- We have relationships where we can make a difference
- We have spheres of influence in our families, workplaces, and communities
- Our example affects other people’s lives
People:
- We have been entrusted with caring for others
- We have family members, friends, and neighbors who need our love
- We have been given the privilege of serving others
The question is not what we hold, but how we serve.
Four Checks for Today
Based on Jesus’ teaching, here are four ways to examine your faithfulness:
Eyes – Watch for God in the Ordinary:
- Look for ways God is working in your daily life
- Notice opportunities to serve that others might miss
- Stay alert to God’s presence in normal, everyday moments
Hands – Give Each Task Its Due:
- Do your work well, whether it’s important or mundane
- Give your full effort to whatever task is in front of you
- Don’t do sloppy work just because no one is checking
Mouth – Feed Others with Truthful, Timely Words:
- Speak words that nourish and help others
- Tell the truth even when it’s difficult
- Give encouragement and correction when people need it
Heart – Refuse the Excuse of Delay:
- Don’t let yourself off the hook because God seems to be taking His time
- Don’t assume you have unlimited time to get your life right
- Stay faithful even when God’s plans don’t match your timeline
What is The Danger of “My Master is Delayed” mentality
The unfaithful servant’s downfall started with one thought: “My master is delayed.”
What This Leads To:
Relaxing Standards:
- “God isn’t paying attention, so I can cut corners”
- “Since nothing bad has happened yet, this behavior must be okay”
- “I have time to fix this later”
Mistreating Others:
- When we think we’re not accountable, we often become unkind
- We might become impatient, harsh, or selfish with people
- We forget that how we treat others matters to God
Self-Indulgence:
- “I deserve to enjoy myself while the master is away”
- We might prioritize our pleasure over our responsibilities
- We start living for ourselves instead of for God and others
October 22, 2025: The Beautiful Promise
For those who are found faithful:
“He will put him in charge of all his possessions.”
What This Means:
In This Life:
- God gives more opportunities to those who handle current ones well
- Faithful people often find themselves trusted with greater responsibilities
- God uses reliable people to accomplish His purposes
In Eternity:
- Those who serve faithfully on earth will be rewarded in heaven
- The investments we make in faithfulness will pay eternal dividends
- God will entrust faithful servants with eternal treasures
Remember: Time is the great revealer of character. Don’t wait for perfect circumstances or dramatic moments to be faithful. Be faithful today, in ordinary tasks, with ordinary people, in ordinary moments. That’s where true faithfulness is proven.
A Simple Prayer for Today
Lord Jesus, you have given me much – your Word, your grace, time, talents, and people to love. Help me to be faithful with all of it. When I’m tempted to think you’re not watching or that I have unlimited time to get things right, remind me that you call me to faithfulness every single day. Let me be steady rather than spectacular, quietly faithful rather than briefly intense. When you come – whether today or in years to come – may you find me at my post, doing what you’ve called me to do. Amen.
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