“Everyone needs to be touched by the comfort and attraction of God’s saving love, which is mysteriously at work in each person, above their faults and failings.” The Joy of the Gospel. To read more on Pope Francis’ daily activities and homilies/talks, go to vaticannews.va.
In Jesus’ parable of the Unjust Steward, we encounter a financial manager who has wasted his master’s wealth and faces dismissal from his position. To overcome the crisis confronting him, the steward reduces some very considerable debts owed by poor neighbors to his master in order to help them out. Though the steward has sinned against God and his master by squandering what belongs to someone else, both the prudent way in which he goes about resolving the crisis coupled with relieving people who are in need can be seen as a way to better steward the gifts entrusted to us by God. Although good stewards today acknowledge that they may never use their God-given gifts in a way that completely conforms to the demands of the Gospel, a commitment to using their gifts with prudence and for the purpose of helping their neighbors wins God’s favor.
“God is the father who watches and waits for his children, runs out to meet them, embraces them, pleads with them, and begs and urges them to come home. It might sound strange, but God wants to find us as much, if not more, than we want to find God.” -Henry Nouwen. In this year of change for us, St. Malachi Parishioners, the quote from Henry Nouwen sounds refreshing. As parishioners, we may want to take some time to renew and deepen our personal relationship with God together. If so, please join us reading and reflecting on the book Forming Intentional Disciples, The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus by Sherry A. Weddell. To learn more about the series, join us THIS Sunday September 22, 2019 10:15 AM in Malachi Center. Besides reading and reflecting, we will be learning new forms of personal prayer during our sessions. If you cannot make it and are interested, please contact Janet Benoit, Jackie Krejcik, Jan Leitch or Therese Mullen. The second session of the series is between Sunday Masses on October 13, 2019. Watch the bulletin for details.
Among the primary themes in today’s Gospel when we hear Jesus’ well-known parable of the Prodigal Son is forgiveness and the need to repent. But from a stewardship point of view what is also interesting is one of the secondary themes: the failure to use responsibly the gifts that have been so generously bestowed. The youngest son who demanded his inheritance and left home broke no laws or religious commandments. His wrongdoing was that he wasted his inherited wealth, the abundant gifts given to him. His sin was in his extravagant living; squandering his gifts in pursuit of selfish pleasures. Good stewards acknowledge that everything they have comes from God, and they are required to cultivate these gifts responsibly. What are our God-given gifts? Do we use them responsibly? Do we exercise good stewardship over them?
“Before all else the Gospel invites you to respond to the God of love who saves us, to see God in others, and to go forth from ourselves to seek the good of others. All of the virtues are at the service of this response of love.” The Joy of the Gospel
The Gospel reading today starts with a question: “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” Jesus offers only a simple reply: Strive to enter through the narrow gate. Many will try to enter and will not be able. Good stewards know there is only one, narrow gate. Not everything will fit. This narrow gate has no room for our accomplishments. No room for our money. No room for our possessions. No room for anything else but those who’ve been good stewards of the Gospel. We can’t custom build our own gates either. There is only one, narrow gate that happens to be open for a time, but for how long? What is our plan of action to get through that gate?
“Goodness always tends to spread. Every authentic experience of truth and goodness seeks by its very nature to grow within us, & any person who has experienced a profound liberation becomes more sensitive to the needs of others…If we wish to lead a dignified and fulfilling life, we have to reach out to others and seek their good.” From The Joy of the Gospel, Chapter 2 .
In today’s second reading, we hear the author of the letter to the Hebrews liken the daily life of the Christian steward to a race, a long-distance race perhaps, certainly not a sprint; requiring endurance and a single-minded focus on Jesus at the finish line. Good stewards are firmly committed to running the race, to live the Christian life to the fullest, to keep their eyes focused on Jesus. They don’t grow weary. They don’t lose heart. They know there is immense joy waiting for them at the finish line. Are you fully committed to living each day for Christ? Are you running the race, or are you simply jogging? Just walking? Sitting? Going backwards? Going nowhere? Some of us may want to reflect on what we can do to run the race with even more conviction. Others may want to reflect on how to simply enter the race and start running.
“Whenever we encounter another person in love, we learn something new about God. The Church must be a place of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel welcomed, loved, forgiven, and encouraged to live the good life of the Gospel.” From The Joy of the Gospel
Join us Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at 7:00PM for Bridges to Contemplative Living: prayer & contemplative silence, reflecting on writings from Thomas Merton
