August 7-8, 2010
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Wisdom 18:6-9 Hebrews 11:1-19 Luke 12:32-48
While we are each created in the image and likeness of God…and while we are each ‘beautiful’ in the sight of God (and FKB)…we are not all gifted with the same set of physical qualities or intellectual agility. ‘That person was absent when they handed out brains…’ is an apt expression for the person who consistently does not anticipate or wisely think things through. ‘Dumber than a doornail…’ is only cruel until you encounter someone who meets those standards! With each encounter with people we become aware of their skills and abilities, we also begin to judge (appropriately) what we can expect from and of them. Hence, if someone were a complete klutz with tools…it probably would not be wise to have them repair our brakes or change our tires. Likewise, the person who cannot boil water is not the appropriate person to cook and serve a luscious celebratory meal. This weekend’s Gospel from Luke speaks about us living our relationships with Jesus as we go about the tasks of daily life, Our relationship with Jesus is not a fragile porcelain figurine to be brought out for an hour or two on the weekend, it is meant to be interwoven with the events, tasks and thoughts of our daily lives. The more we engage Jesus in earnest and questioning conversation the more our actions are transformed as witnesses to HIS presence in our world. Some people think that ‘witnessing’ to God is about standing on a street corner and obnoxiously shouting out bible phrases. True witnessing to God is allowing our actions to shine with HIS presence…but they are always OUR actions, actions/thoughts in which we always have a free choice, but our choices have hopefully been guided by our ongoing divine conversations so that they build up God’s kingdom and not tear it down. While each of us may have received varying physical or intellectual qualities, we each are urged by God to live our lives to the best of our ability. Knowing ourselves (and our limitations) is a first step in being a wise steward. Not waiting around to be told to use our abilities is a the second, third and fourth step….for the simple reason that if God has gifted us with certain abilities….duhhhhh why would we be waiting to put them into service of God? ‘But God never directly asked me to do something….’ Is the lament of some…while others will say… ‘I want to do what I see others doing, not that of which I am most capable.’ Both of these are poor excuses to not do anything….and this weekend’s Gospel does not speak very highly of that attitude!!! Oh yeah, one final reminder…the things with which we busy ourselves usually speak volumes about our deepest pursuits and goals…so, what do our actions and thoughts say about our relationships with God?
Thank you for sharing this Summer weekend with our Corpus Christi Community. NEXT Saturday is the second and LAST ‘La Cena’ summer dinner, reservations can be made outside at the booth….remember, THIS WEDNESDAY is the RSVP cut-off date! Next weekend we will also honor our Blessed Mother as we celebrate ‘The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary’ at all our weekend Masses….our second ‘La Cena’ will be more authentic than usual in duplicating the traditional feasts, dances and celebrations accompanying Catholic observances in European villages! Please take a Bulletin home with you for your leisurely perusal…you don’t want to miss out on any upcoming parish opportunities. The dog days of summer being upon us…remember, you are loved! FKB
