25th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2025

 

Have you ever seen the movie Catch Me If You Can? It’s based on the real-life story of Frank Abagnale Jr. When he was just a teenager, Frank became one of the most famous con men in American history. He forged checks worth millions of dollars, impersonated an airline pilot, a doctor, and even a lawyer. He was brilliant, clever, and resourceful — but he used those gifts for dishonest purposes.

Eventually, the law caught up with him, and he went to prison. But here’s the remarkable part: when he was released, those same talents didn’t disappear. Instead, Frank began working with the FBI, using his sharp mind to help catch fraudsters and teach banks how to prevent forgery. The very skills that once caused harm were now being used for good. His life became an example of how gifts can be redeemed when put to the right purpose.

Today’s Gospel is one of the strangest parables Jesus ever told. A steward is caught squandering his master’s property. About to lose his job, he comes up with a plan: he reduces the debts of his master’s clients, hoping they’ll take care of him later. Surprisingly, the master praises him — not for his dishonesty, but for his cleverness, his shrewdness.

And then Jesus makes the point: “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” In other words: if even dishonest people can use their gifts and talents boldly, why aren’t the followers of Christ just as bold and creative in using their gifts for the Kingdom of God?

Amos in the first reading rails against corruption — dishonest scales, cheating the poor, putting profit above people. God says: “Never will I forget a thing they have done.” Dishonesty will always come to ruin. But honesty, integrity, and the wise use of talents — these can lift up the poor, as the Psalm reminds us: “The Lord raises up the lowly from the dust.”

Here’s the truth: God can use any gift you have to build up His Kingdom. It doesn’t have to look “religious.” Business sense, financial knowledge, organizational skills, leadership ability, creativity, humor, even the ability to fix things with your hands — all of it can be redirected to serve God’s people.

Sometimes, the very talents that once got us into trouble — like Frank Abagnale’s gift for trickery — can, once redeemed, become powerful tools for good. A recovering addict who once led people down the wrong road now helps others find sobriety. A former gang member uses his leadership to mentor at-risk youth. A parishioner who spends her days crunching numbers at work volunteers to help families budget wisely. A teenager who loves video games sets up livestreams so shut-ins can watch Mass. God wastes nothing. He can redeem any gift.

So the question is: What are the gifts and talents God has given you? Have you been hiding them, or using them only for yourself? What if, like that steward, you saw that time is short and acted decisively to put them to use for something greater?

Because at the end of the Gospel, Jesus makes it clear: “No servant can serve two masters. You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Our gifts will either serve ourselves, or they will serve God. There’s no middle ground.

Frank Abagnale’s life shows us that no gift is beyond redemption, and no talent is too worldly for God to use. The steward in the Gospel reminds us to act with urgency and creativity. And Amos reminds us that God will not forget how we treat the poor.

So let’s take stock: What has God entrusted to you? What skills, what talents, what opportunities are in your hands right now? Don’t let them be wasted. Don’t let them be used only for yourself. Put them in God’s service — and He will use them to build His Kingdom.