Sunday, October 27, 2013

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

What's not to like about today's readings. Good things are in store for the poor, the oppressed, and the faithful. Plus, a divine smackdown awaits the arrogant and greedy! But what makes us so certain that we are part of the former category, rather than the latter one? "The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites." Believe it or not, that includes you too.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Our help is from the Lord." But help with what? Mowing down our enemies, or loving them? Proving the ignorance of heathens and heretics, or hearing the hopes and dreams of our brothers and sisters? Obtaining the satisfaction that we demand, or spreading the justice that our family deserves? Truly, what sort of faith will the Son of Man find on earth when he comes?

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Is anyone surprised that ten were healed but only one returned to say thank you? Were the other nine ungrateful or just eager to get the priests' blessing? Who can blame them for going with the practical choice? After all, whose approval most impacts our day to day living? And whose mercy is it safest to take for granted? How many of us choose faith while we still have other options?

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Who among us aspires to be an unprofitable servant? Most of us would be embarrassed or offended if branded with such a label. Even slackers and bums would likely reject it as too subservient. And that is why faith is so hard for us. We are a prideful and impatient people. We set out from an early age to conquer life, to mold it according to our dreams. Some of us are foolish enough to think that we have actually succeeded in those endeavors. But whether we are alive to witness it or not, all of our feeble kingdoms collapse eventually. Only one kingdom lasts; only one kingdom matters. And we serve that kingdom by surrendering control: of our time, of our will, of our very lives. Rarely will such faith make sense from day to day, but it will move mountains, not merely trees, when it counts. So let us strive to be our Creator's unprofitable servants, for there is no higher honor than that.