29th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - Christian Stewardship

Both our readings this morning—from Ephesians and the Gospel—speak of stewardship. 

In our first reading, St. Paul describes himself as receiving "the stewardship of God's grace" – a gift given not for himself, but "for your benefit." Paul recognizes the fundamental truth that God's gifts are always given for the good of others.

Like the servant in Jesus's parable who is entrusted with distributing food to the household, Paul understood that his role was to faithfully share what he had received with others.

This is one of the great principals of the Christian Stewardship to which we are all called: the more we receive, the more responsibility we bear to share it. “Everything is interconnected” as Pope Francis has written: our spiritual gifts, our material resources, our relationship with creation itself. We are stewards not just of material goods, but of "God's varied grace" as St. Paul puts it. And what we do with these gifts effects everything else.

Jesus's parable warns us about two dangerous attitudes toward stewardship. The first is failing to be diligent. The faithful steward is praised because the master returns and finds the steward diligently fulfilling his duties. We are to be diligent in our stewardship of our time, talent, and treasure. Now of course, that doesn’t mean we can’t rest from our labors when we need to. Rest is good stewardship when it allows us to become recharged for the work that needs to be done. But rest can easily devolve into sloth if we are not careful and prudent and disciplined.

The second and more serious danger is actively abusing our stewardship – like the servant who begins to mistreat others and squander resources when he thinks the master is delayed. This servant forgets the fundamental truth that everything we have is a gift meant for service.

God has blessed each of us, physically, financially, intellectually, and spiritually. But we have been entrusted with these gifts not simply for our own well-being or our own earthly success, but for the good of others and the building up of the Church. 

In essence, Christian Stewardship is a fundamental aspect of Christian identity, it is the way of discipleship, a way of participating in God's work, a means of personal sanctification, a form of preparation for eternal life.

But again, "At the evening of life, we shall be judged” on how we used the time, talent, treasure, and grace entrusted to us. So may we be lavish in our charity, diligent in our service, disciplined in our habits, and prudent with the time we have been given for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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For the Church, that all her members may be good stewards of the Gospel, sharing the faith with courage and jo. Let us pray to the Lord...

For our spiritual and temporal leaders, that they may exercise their authority with wisdom and justice, always remembering that their power is a sacred trust for service. 

For the grace of prudence and discipline in our lives, that we may avoid both sloth and overwork, finding the right balance between activity and rest in service to God, we pray to the Lord...

For those who are struggling with poverty or mental illness, for the sick, suffering, homebound, victims of war, and those who will die today, that they may receive the material, emotional, and spiritual assistance they need. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, for all of the poor souls in purgatory, for the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, for the deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom, that they may enjoy the eternal reward promised to the Lord’s faithful servants. Let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, all good gifts come from you. help us to be faithful stewards of your grace, diligent in service, prudent in judgment, and generous in charity. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

31st Week of OT 2019 - Friday - Have I Squandered God's Gifts?

Consider the last line of the Gospel. “For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than the children of light.”

If Jesus’ followers were as prudent in doing the work of God, as children of the world are in seeking after their own self-interest, how different would the world be?

Would that Jesus’ followers were as diligent at storing up treasure in heaven, as the greedy and corrupt are in acquiring earthly wealth. Would that Jesus’ followers were as meticulous at organizing charitable activity in their parish as the head coaches of professional football teams are organizing their teams for victory. Would that Jesus’ followers were as thorough at disciplining their minds and hearts against temptation, as professional athletes are in training their bodies.  Would that Jesus’ followers were as painstaking in teaching the Gospel to our children, as the culture is in malforming them. What a different world this would be.

How have we squandered the time we have been given? ? How many wasted hours in front of a television? Or a computer screen? In pursuing mindless entertainment or social media status? How many wasted opportunities for visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, visiting the lonely? How many God-given gifts, have gone unused because we didn’t want to leave our comfort zone?

Isn’t God saying to us, what rich man said to the steward in the Gospel, “What is this I hear about you? Squandering the gifts I have given you?”

What would my life look like, what would my soul look like, if I was putting those gifts into practice with diligence, devotion, discipline, courage, and generosity?

Let us take serious accounting,, and by God’s grace, seek a transformation, a reorientation of values and practices, that our whole lives may be at His service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
 
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That the Pope and all the Ordained may courageously call forth and order the gifts of all the faithful.

That our president and all civic officials will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for religious freedom and the dignity of human life.

During this National Vocations Week, we pray for an increase in vocations to priesthood and consecrated life, and that our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the godlessness of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they will be fortified and blessed with the Father’s healing, light, and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

We pray in a special way during this month of November for all the faithful departed, for those whose names are written in our parish book of the names of the dead, all deceased members of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish, and our deceased family members and friends, deceased clergy and religious, for the repose of the soul of Bishop Richard Lennon who will be buried today, for those who fought and died for our freedom and for X. for whom this mass is offered.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

31st Sunday in OT - 2019 - God is the lover of souls

“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!” What a profound statement of faith from our first reading from the Book of Wisdom today.

I’d like to consider 5 points this powerful, profound line of scripture. …“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!”

First, we’ll consider how it speaks to what we are. Secondly, what we are not. Thirdly, what that means in daily life. Fourthly, what it requires of us. And finally, its ultimate import.
So, firstly, this line speaks of who we are. God’s imperishable spirit is in us. We are endowed by God with what philosophers, theologians, poets, and scripture call “a soul”, an immortal, rational soul. We are made by God with a body and a soul.

Harkening back to the very first book of the bible, we read in Genesis, that in contrast to all the other elements of the created universe: the stars, the rocks, the plants, the animals, God uniquely breathed life into the man and woman. in divine image he created them; male and female he created them. When God looks upon us, he sees a reflection of Himself, we are made in God’s very image and likeness. And therefore, we are capable of understanding the order of the universe. We possess the powers of intellect and free will, and the use of reason capable of recognizing our purpose of pursuing the true, the good, and the beautiful.

“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!”

Secondly, then, we are reminded of what we are not. Since, we have God’s very spirit within us, we are not irrational animals, we are not some consequence of random cosmic forces, we are not bound to follow every urge, appetite, or impulse we experience. Nor are we merely mortal—we share something of the immortal nature of God. Nor, are we inconsequential to God, we are not accidents. Our existence is part of God’s plan. And there is something about us that loveable even when we have misused our free will in sin.

In the Gospel today, the Son of God, Jesus, sees Zacchaeus in the tree. What does he see when he sees Zacchaeus? Does he see a cheat, a crook, an extortioner, a collaborator with the foreign enemy? Zacchaeus was all these things. But Jesus, lover of souls, saw something deeper than all of Zacchaeus’ physical and moral shortcomings—something that was loveable in Zacchaeus and is loveable in all of us, something worth dying for.

“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!”

Thirdly, what this means for all of us in day to day life, is that if we believe that we have God’s imperishable spirit within us, and by the way, so does every other human being on this earth, if we believe that, we must treat ourselves and others with dignity and respect, we must foster what Pope Paul VI called a “civilization of love”, what Pope John Paul II called the “culture of life” that cherishes and protects every human person from the moment of conception until death.
The very essence of our moral theology and our call to social action is the dignity of every human person—the responsibility we have for our souls and that of our neighbor. To neglect one is to neglect the other.

“O Lord and lover of souls, your imperishable spirit is in all things!”

Fourthly, what does this require of us? What does this entail? If our soul has value in God’s eyes, we must cultivate and care for it. We are usually pretty good at caring for our bodies. Most of us don’t totally indulge every bodily appetite. Most of us observe some semblance of eating right, exercise, caring for our bodies when they become ill, diseased, or broken down.

But, the care our souls, on the other hand, is certainly not one of the hallmarks of our culture. And yet it is the lack of care for the immortal soul which is at the root of most of our exhaustion, unhappiness and societal evil. We pursue so many idols: wealth, bodily pleasure, and power, and our lives our sorrier for it.

I am reminded of a powerful article written by Bishop Lennon, who passed away this week. Bishop Lennon wrote how Christians, rather than pursuing idols the idols of the world are to place “God at the center of our weekly schedules and activities, meals, chores, conversations, parenting, work, vacations, civic responsibilities, decisions, problems, crises accomplishments, and losses.” By doing so, the bishop said, “our whole lives become charged and changed by God’s presence”. Rather than unhappiness and exhaustion from pursuing idols and neglecting our souls, our life becomes filled with power and patience and resiliency and joy even amidst our many trials.

To assist us in making sure we are taking the time to cultivate our souls and placing God at the center of our lives, the Stewardship committee has put together a wonderful Time Commitment Card. We invite you to take one of these Commitment Cards home with you and pray with it throughout the week. How might God be inviting you to make a greater return of your time to Him that he may strengthen you and speak to you?

After praying with the Commitment Card throughout the week, next weekend we will collect the cards and place them before the altar. So please take a commitment card home with you today, they are located at the ends of the pews. Pray with them, ask God to help you commit to some healthy prayer habits that will nurture your soul, and bring them back to church next weekend. No need to put your name on the card or anything, your commitment is between you and God.

God is a lover of souls and wants to see your soul flourish in virtue and grace. As, St. Paul writes in our second reading, “that our God may make you worthy of his calling and powerfully bring to fulfillment every good purpose and every effort of faith”

Finally, why does any of this matter?

It is clear that we have the imperishable spirit of God within us. God made us to live forever, to be united with Him forever in eternity.

But scripture is also clear that what we do with our time and our choices and our free will matters—what we do with that imperishable soul matters.

For those who die in God’s grace and friendship, who have become perfectly purified from sin, their destination, immediately after death, is heaven. These are the saints, those who names we know, and those whose names we don’t, whom we celebrated in a special way on All Saints Day.

For those who died in God’s grace and friendship, but have been imperfectly purified of sin, that is, who have not given the whole of their lives and minds and wills and souls to God in this life, that’s most of us, we are destined for heaven, but have some purification after death in Purgatory. We pray in a special way for the souls in purgatory during this month of November.

And those who freely choose to live and persist in grave sin, those who allow the powers of selfishness and sin to consume them in this life, their imperishable soul will suffer what Jesus himself calls “the unquenchable fire”.

By the way, I will be taking up for my second Friday faith formation these topics of heaven, hell, death, soul, and purgatory. So, consider joining us in the school cafeteria for a discussion of these topics on friday at 7pm.

Knowing these truths is Good News. For with God’s help we can preserve our souls from evil and open our souls to the life God wishes to give us. God is the lover of souls and invites each of us, urges us  through His Word, to concern ourselves with what matters most in life, the cultivation of our souls in grace, in virtue, in imitation of the Good Shepherd, the Son of Man who came to seek and to save what was lost for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

25th Sunday in OT 2019 - "You cannot serve both God and Mammon"

“You cannot serve both God and mammon." Last week, a parishioner, perhaps looking ahead to this week’s reading, asked me before Mass, “Father, what does the Bible mean when it refers to mammon?”

Just from the context of today’s Gospel, we can surmise that mammon has something to do with money or wealth or earthly possessions.  After all, this teaching about mammon follows a parable about steward who squandered his master’s property, certainly recalling from last week, the parable of the prodigal son who squandered his inheritance on his earthly appetites.

This dishonest steward, instead of serving his master’s interests, has squandered his office, and only after getting caught, does he scramble to make some amends. Instead of serving his master, he has served an idol, a false master, himself.

The word mammon comes from the Aramaic word for “trust”. So “mammon” is something, anything that you trust in, other than God. It could mean money, it could mean power, it could mean your own ego.

So, Jesus isn’t calling money, evil, here, per se. Most people use money for very good reasons, like providing for their family.  But some people sell out their family, their country, their integrity . . . for money.  Money becomes a false idol, money becomes mammon when it is pursued at the expense of one’s soul. But again, not just money can become mammon; I read an article this week in which a Hollywood actress was boasting that it was her multiple abortions which enabled her to grow in fame—she willingly sacrificed the lives of her children for personal fame and wealth. Mammon is a relentless unholy god that demands sacrifice for short-term gain at the expense of others.

Last week, the prodigal son, having squandered his inheritance, was symbolic of sinful humanity, guilty of a squandered relationship with God resulting in the spiritual death of sin. But the good news was that the father in the parable, was symbolic of God, who runs to embrace his repentant son in mercy. Each of us, falling into sin, over and over, is pursued by God who longs to embrace us in his mercy.

Well, the dishonest steward, this week is symbolic as well, but of who? Well, Jesus is certainly addressing the Pharisees, who have squandered their holy office, their sacred duty, for their own sordid gain. They were supposed to be true spiritual leaders in Israel, helping people to be faithful to God and helping people to recognize how God was working in their lives. Jesus equates the Pharisees with the unfaithful, dishonest, steward, for their failure to help people recognize Jesus as Son of God and follow Him.

But this parable is also addressed again, just like last week, to every Christian of every age, to all of us. The parable challenges us to ensure that we do not squander the time we have been given, the treasure with which we’ve been entrusted, and to be vigilant against becoming a slave to mammon, and to serve God in even the smallest of matters.

So, what does it mean to serve God? Our first reading defines this service as care for the poor, honesty in our business transactions. Speaking through the prophet Amos, the Lord God, has some pretty harsh words for those who would take advantage of the poor and whose priorities are not aligned with God’s. “Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land.. Never will I forget a thing they have done!” Lest we think we are off the hook as long as we are not cheating the poor outright, the Lord condemns just as strongly those who are anxious for the Sabbath to be over in order to pursue the things of the earth.

Rather, we are to live for God all week, by placing Christ at the center of everything we do, and to remember our responsibility to the poor in our midst, the materially poor and spiritually poor, to ensure that we are setting good example for young people, to ensure that our time, talent, and treasure is entirely at the service of God.

Time, talent, and treasure. That’s a phrase this parish is pretty familiar with. Over the last five years, our former pastor Fr. Troha was very vigilant in calling the parish to commit their time, talent, and treasure to the Lord’s service. And though, we know longer will have the month long stewardship renewal, we do well to make an examination of our personal stewardship with questions like: am I reasonably supporting the Church and the work of the Church with my time, talent, and treasure? Am I setting aside time every day for some form of service to God? Am I setting aside a reasonable amount of treasure every week that will go to help someone else-- that will lift someone else’s burdens? What is an appropriate percentage of my income to give to God? 1% 5% 10%? Am I using my talents to make the world more beautiful, to glorify God so that strangers and neighbors and family may believe in Him? Could I get to daily mass during the week, or could I do spiritual reading, if I spent less time on social media, if I didn’t stay up so late watching television?

At the end of every day, we do well to make an examination of conscience—an account of how we have spent our time, talent, and treasure—to repent of our selfishness and to seek God’s help in being more generous the next day.

Just like last week, this week’s parable contains challenge, warning and promise. Yes, we are challenged to ensure we are honest and prudent before God, and we are warned, that we will, at the end of life, be required to give a full account of our stewardship before God. But we also hear God’s promise: those who are faithful shall be known as children of the light; a “tranquil life of devotion and dignity”, as St. Paul, describes in our second reading, “is pleasing to God.” And shall be rewarded in eternity.

For to the extent which we have given ourselves away in this life, in imitation and in union with Christ Our savior, we will be blessed in eternity. So may we be generous for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

October 23 2017 - When our possessions possess us

A constant theme in the writings of one of my favorite authors, the Catholic writer J.R.R. Tolkien, is that of the corrupting nature of greed and hoarding. He writes of Dragons with insatiable hungers for hoarding treasure, dwarven kings who bring ruin to their kingdoms over an obsession for jewels, entire wars fought over the possession of a single ring.

Writing in the early 20th century, Tolkien saw the growing Industrialization and materialism of Europe and America as a corrupting influence in Western Culture. And his stories serve as cautionary tales. Much like the Gospels.

Today we hear of the man who hoards, who stores up more and more for himself that he may “eat, drink, and be merry” without a care in the world. Yet, at the time of his judgment, God calls him a fool, for neglecting his spiritual duties for the sake of his earthly well-being.

As Christians called to live “in the world, but not of the world” our relationship with the material goods of the earth is delicate. We must certainly provide for our own basic needs, the needs of our family, and help our neighbor as we can, but we must also not allow the pursuit of creature comforts, luxuries, or worry about the future preoccupy us.

Fr. Klasinski has reminded us often that there is nothing wrong with having possessions, as long as our possessions do not begin to possess us.  Our possessions can begin to have a demonic influence in our life, when used improperly, instead of being used properly and bringing us closer to God, they are used improperly and lead us away from God.

I think of another literary character who speaks of his alcoholic father. He says that every time father would take a drink from the bottle, it was as if the bottle were taking a drink out of him. Greed, the improper use of material things, is rather vampiric. As we thirst for more and more things, we become less and less human.

Rather, we are called to a proper stewardship of the goods of the earth, appropriating property for our needs, those of our family, and the care for the poor. But always keeping in mind that the excessive accumulation of earthly goods can lead us to be very poor in the riches of heaven.

The Saints, like St. John Capestrano, teach us what being rich in spiritual things looks like, how to order our lives rightly, and to remove the filth and corruption of greed and vice.

As we draw near to the table of the Lord today, may we do so with gratitude for the blessings which fill our lives, with the desire to be good stewards of earthly goods, to right the wrongs in our life, and to seek first the kingdom of heaven for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That we Christian stewards may continue to grow in gratitude to God for all that we have received, and use our time, talent, and treasure for the good of all.

That all those who take part in political and social life will promote evangelization, will work for the true common good, defend religious liberty, and protect the unborn and innocent.  We pray to the Lord.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of October: That all workers may receive respect and protection of their rights, and that the unemployed may receive the opportunity to contribute to the common good.

For all those struggling with addiction, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind: that they will be fortified and blessed with God’s special love, favor, and peace.  We pray to the Lord.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.

Homily: 25th Sunday in OT 2016 - Serving God with undivided hearts

Remember, it was this time last year, when Pope Francis visited the United States. He visited Washington and presided over the Canonization of St. Junipero Serra, he addressed the United Nations and visited the 9/11 World Trade Center Memorial in New York, and he spoke to families at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.

While in Washington, the Holy Father also addressed Congress. There he invited people of all faiths to consider one of the great American champions for justice, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He spoke of Dr. King’s “dream” of civil and political rights for African Americans, and his call for all Americans to work together to build a nation of justice and peace.

In his famous “I have a dream speech” Dr. King, evoked the prophet Amos, from whom we read today. “Let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a mighty stream!” What is Justice? The prophets over and over again speak of justice, what are they talking about? The Catechism, the Popes, the saints, call upon Catholics to work for justice in society. So what is justice? Simply, Justice is when people receive what is owed to them—our natural rights—the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness.

It is a matter of justice to give people the respect they deserve, safety, medical help, the type of education which helps them to flourish. When they are deprived of these things, it is an injustice. The prophets, over and over again speak of justice. “The Lord is a God of Justice” Isaiah says. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Zechariah says, “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.”

Jesus himself, in recalling the Great Commandments teaches us to “love our neighbor as ourselves” even to go out of our way, like the Good Samaritan, to help those in need.

This particular topic sometimes causes us to squirm in our seats a little bit, because we know, deep down, that often we do not give enough, we do not care enough, volunteer enough, pray enough.

Listen again to Amos: “Hear this, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land!
"When will the new moon be over," you ask, "that we may sell our grain; and the Sabbath, that we may display the wheat?”  What’s he saying here?

The festival of the new moon was a key religious Jewish observance and during that time you didn’t do business.  And of course, the Sabbath day, was a day of rest, a day of prayer, of sacrifice; we are to avoid work on the Sabbath, in keep with the 3^rd commandment.

So, Amos is speaking to those who are so concerned with their business operations and money making that they squirm with impatience during the religious observances.   They can’t wait to get back to work and get this religious stuff over with so they can make money because deep down they love money more than they love God and certainly more than they love the poor.

Jesus in the Gospel, today speaks of the choice we must make: choose your master: God or mammon. To serve a master requires total, exclusive commitment. Though many people seek to serve both God and money, Jesus points out that this is not possible. It is an injustice when we love money and serve money because we are failing to give our true, full, and undivided devotion to God.

God is to be our master. We are to give him our undivided hearts. That in a sense, our wealth, our money, our time do not belong to us. They are meant to be used for God’s will, not our selfish pursuits. If God is the master, we are but stewards. Of course that means taking care of our families, providing shelter, education, and some healthy leisure for ourselves. But our wealth, our time, talent, and treasure, is not meant to do our own will, but the will of God.

I think Pope Francis has done a very challenging thing in calling this Holy Year of Mercy, challenging every one of us, like the prophets challenged Israel, to consider how we are using our time, are we using our time justly, mercifully?

Jesus in this parable of the steward calls us to be prudent, honest, intelligent and generous stewards of the gifts we have been given, to ensure we are giving God the first fruits, not the left overs. Stewardship is a matter of justice.

In the Old Testament we find the ancient devout practice of tithing, giving 10% to the Lord. To some this might seem excessive, but it at least causes us to consider how much do I give? There are 168 hours in a week, let’s say we spend a third of that sleeping. Let’s say roughly 110 waking hours. Besides the hour we spend at Mass on the weekend, do we come close to giving 10% of our time to God in prayer, scripture study, meditation?

There is of course no absolute demand that 10% of one’s income is given directly to the Church, but when we consider our finances, what percentage is really going to charity and the upkeep of the parish?

Am I even involved in any form of merciful work, volunteering, helping to make the world a kinder, gentler, more peaceful place?

What changes in my own life need to be made, so that I can truly say I give an undivided heart to Christ?

Not that we should expect anything back, but we never regret the time we give to God, the time we give helping others. We often discover we receive so much more than what we give.

When I think of the type of Christian I want to be, the type of priest I want to be, I think of our dear good priest, Father Wendelken. As many of you have heard, perhaps yet, you haven’t, Father Wendelken passed away on Wednesday evening, the feast of the exaltation of the holy cross, after being diagnosed with cancer several months ago.  Father Wendelken had a gigantic heart for those in need, had a deep, passionate love for the Church and the priesthood, and was filled with tremendous joy after a life of prayer and sacrificial priestly service.

Father Wendelken was the beloved pastor of St. Rita parish for many years, and it is there that his funeral and wake will be held this week. Beginning with a prayer service presided over by Bishop Lennon, his wake will be held at St. Rita church in Solon from 3 to 7pm on Tuesday. Bishop Gries will be the main celebrant of the funeral Mass at St. Rita’s at 11am on Wednesday.

After his retirement Father Wendelken returned to reside here at St. Clare. He spoke often of how blessed he was for being here, for the kindness he was shown, by the parishioners here. Please remember Father in your prayers this week.  He died very peacefully, surrounded by his family, after having received the refreshment of the Sacraments.

Please prayer for his soul this week, and for the consolation of his family, and those who touched so deeply in his priestly ministry. And this week, may each of us be generous in asking the Holy Spirit to lead us to work for justice, righteousness, and peace for the glory of God and salvation of souls.