{"id":1191,"date":"2013-09-23T15:04:43","date_gmt":"2013-09-23T19:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/?p=1191"},"modified":"2013-09-23T15:04:43","modified_gmt":"2013-09-23T19:04:43","slug":"25th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c-homily","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.renewaloffaith.org\/blog\/25th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-c-homily\/","title":{"rendered":"25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C – Homily"},"content":{"rendered":"

25th<\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time<\/a>
\nAmos 8:4-7
\n1 Timothy 2:1-8
\nLuke 16:1-13
\nSeptember 22, 2013<\/p>\n

Today Jesus tells us the Parable of the Dishonest Steward.\u00a0 In those days a steward was essentially the complete manager of the owner\u2019s property and affairs.\u00a0 It was their responsibility to use wisely all that the owner had.\u00a0 It all belonged to the owner but the steward had full dominion over everything.<\/p>\n

So, in \u201csquandering his property\u201d, the steward fails to do the very task he was hired for.<\/p>\n

Each and everyone one of us is a steward.\u00a0 We may \u201cown\u201d things ourselves like a car or a home but really what we have comes from the gifts that God has given us.<\/p>\n

In Genesis we read that God gives us dominion over all the Earth.\u00a0 We often take that to mean we can do whatever we want with it.<\/p>\n

That would be irresponsible and it would be wrong.<\/p>\n

God has given us gifts and we are given dominion and free will to do whatever we want with what we have given.\u00a0 That doesn\u2019t mean we should <\/i>squander what we have been given.<\/p>\n

Paul invites us to pray for everyone<\/i>.\u00a0 God wills everyone <\/i>to be saved.\u00a0 Jesus gives his life desiring that all <\/i>will be saved.<\/p>\n

When we think about the gifts God has given us, we are called to think not just of ourselves but other people.\u00a0 The question is not how we build up earthly wealth for ourselves or how to make a comfortable life for ourselves.<\/p>\n

The question is how we can use our gifts to make the world a better place, how we can help God\u2019s Kingdom to be known in this world.<\/p>\n

We need to take care of our needs<\/i> but not to desire \u201cgreat wants\u201d for ourselves while others struggle.\u00a0 This can be a major challenge.\u00a0 It always has been.<\/p>\n

The prophet Amos is speaking to those whose greatest priority is their profit for sales.\u00a0 They will do anything to make a dollar.\u00a0 They dread Sabbath and religious feasts because it keeps them from working and making a profit.\u00a0 They \u201ctrample upon the needy\u201d<\/i> and \u201cdestroy the poor\u201d<\/i> just to make a profit.<\/p>\n

Christ has given his Church a mission to proclaim the good news.\u00a0 This means sharing the faith and caring for those in need and supporting the poor.\u00a0 To share the faith with someone who doesn\u2019t have food begins with showing them love by helping with their needs.<\/p>\n

We can do this individually when we see people in need.\u00a0 We do as a parish with our Food Pantry, our Thanksgiving Meal program, and Christmas Baskets.\u00a0 As a parish, we also support our local Catholic Charities office.<\/p>\n

Of course, that is all about providing for physical needs.\u00a0 We also need to share faith, nourishing people\u2019s souls.\u00a0 That\u2019s what we do with Mass.\u00a0 It\u2019s also the heart of our religious ed. programs.<\/p>\n

We must also think about what we mean when we say \u201cChurch\u201d.\u00a0 We say church with a lower case \u201cc\u201d when we refer to the buildings we call churches but being a \u201cChurch\u201d with a capital \u201cC\u201d is not limited to the confines of a building.<\/p>\n

We must directly experience \u201cchurch\u201d through our parish where we come together to worship but \u201cChurch\u201d is really about people, caring for and reaching out to.<\/p>\n

As Catholics we have the gift of being a universal church spread over the world, linked together with a common faith and a common Mass.<\/p>\n

We are part of the Diocese of Rochester.\u00a0 We are called to collaborate with our diocese (and the whole Church) to fulfill the mission God has given us.<\/p>\n

Stewardship means given of our time, talent, and treasures all to make possible the fulfillment of the mission Christ has given us.<\/p>\n

As a parish, we are on the right track locally with the ministries I already mentioned but we need to remember Paul\u2019s call to remember everyone and to look beyond Ithaca.<\/p>\n

All that I have said flows from our readings today that are the same readings we read every third year on the 25th<\/sup> Sunday in Ordinary Time but I find these readings especially appropriate this week as our diocese is kicking off our annual Catholic Ministries Appeal.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s about ministry but to do ministry in today\u2019s world requires some funding.\u00a0 The CMA makes up over half the budget for our diocese.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s used across our diocese to support hospital and prison chaplains.\u00a0 It\u2019s used to support campus ministry programs.\u00a0 It\u2019s used to provide training and support for our religious education and youth programs.<\/p>\n

The diocese also provides our parish with technical and administrative support.\u00a0 Our business relies on the support of the diocese.<\/p>\n

Each year, the CMA has a theme and this year\u2019s theme is \u201cWe are God\u2019s helping hands.<\/i>\u201d\u00a0 Could the CMA be part of how you help others?<\/p>\n

We ask for money for our regular collections, for our capital building repairs, and for the CMA.\u00a0 Our goal for the CMA this year is $54,011, up about $1,800 from last year.\u00a0 Some might be tempted to give to our capital campaign that we are starting instead of the CMA.\u00a0 I ask that everyone please continue to contribute to the CMA if you can.\u00a0 Remember it\u2019s a mandated goal, meaning if we don\u2019t meet our goal we make up the difference.\u00a0 So, it really doesn\u2019t help to give to our Strengthen Our Foundations Campaign instead of the CMA.<\/p>\n

Please pray about you might contribute.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Amos 8:4-7 1 Timothy 2:1-8 Luke 16:1-13 September 22, 2013 Today Jesus tells us the Parable of the Dishonest Steward.\u00a0 In those days a steward was essentially the complete manager of the owner\u2019s property and affairs.\u00a0 It was their responsibility to use wisely all that the owner had.\u00a0 It all …<\/p>\n

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