The conversion we seek is to be agents of change in the way we share the blessings we enjoy.

SIXTH SUNDAY IN OT  C  2019

Stewardship Commitment Sunday

It is incredible in Luke’s Gospel how Jesus consistently stood with the poor and marginalized.  Jesus is looking at us right in the eye when He says: “Blessed are you who are poor” and “Woe to you who are rich.”  Luke’s special concern for the poor, the marginal and the sinner is a central feature in Luke’s unique parables of the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal Son, and the widow and the unjust judge.  Zacchaeus the tax collector convinced Jesus of his conversion by promising to give half his possessions to the poor, and Jesus advised his wealthy contemporaries to be sure that their banquets were frequented by the poor, blind, crippled and lame.  This is a quick overview of the unique features of Luke’s Gospel.

What are we who live in great comfort to make of this presentation of the “Good News.”  The well-off seem constitutionally ineligible for the Beatitudes that Jesus presents until we come to the third Beatitude.  “Blessed are they who mourn.”  In Luke’s gospel, people weep for reasons of love or compassion.  In today’s world, the blessed who weep are people who mourn over the suffering of others.  The blessed who weep are people who share God’s compassion for the poor and the hungry. 

When we understand that ours are the only hands God can use to make a difference, our compassion will not let us rest until we go into action.  The commitment of the disciples may end up making them poor, but they will experience a blessedness that is priceless.  This is the blessedness that Jesus offer to those who live the Beatitudes in their lives from day to day.

What about ourselves as a parish community who seek to live out the Beatitudes in our lives?  How do hear those challenging words of Jesus:  Blessed are you who are poor.”  “Woe to you who are rich.”

Those of us who have been nourished well and received a decent education understand that we will never experience the poverty of our brothers and sisters who lack that foundation. Further, there is nothing virtuous about destitution and malnutrition.  This is certainly a far cry from blessedness.

The blessedness we seek, the conversion we seek is to commit ourselves to be agents of change in the way we share the blessings we enjoy.  The commitment we seek is find our place among that mysterious group of God’s blessed ones whose hopes are shaped by the needs of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters.  As I say, this commitment may end up making us poor, but we will experience a blessedness that is priceless.

How are to listen to this Gospel challenge on our Stewardship Commitment Sunday?  As we consider making our financial pledge to the parish in 2019, how seriously are we to take the Gospel message of Jesus to find our place among that mysterious group of God’s blessed ones whose hopes are shaped by the needs of building up our parish community and responding to the needs of our most vulnerable brothers and sisters?

The tire hits the road in our spiritual journey when we ask ourselves how much of the blessings of life that I enjoy am I willing to share with others?  What commitment will I make to building the ministries of our parish life?  Frankly, Jesus doesn’t give us much wiggle room.

From the prophet Jeremiah in the first reading and in our responsorial psalm, “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.”  As our trust in the Lord is deepened, we experience a new freedom in sharing what was previously thought to be impossible.  In my bulletin article this week, I noted that our collections are down $28,000 from a comparable period last year, and we are $22,000 shy of our mandated CMA goal.  In spite of this, I have 100% confidence that as our trust in the Lord is deepened, as we seek to live by the Gospel Beatitudes of sharing, the dynamism and vibrancy of our parish life and ministry will continue to grow.  Our future is full of hope.

I intend to increase my giving to the Sunday offering.  I do this electronically.  If you are able, and only if you are able, I invite you to increase your giving.  The joy of the Lord we seek comes with a spirit of generosity.  The promise I always make is you will never regret your generosity in the service of others.  I have had the privilege of listening to many, many eulogies or Words of Remembrance in our funeral liturgies, I have never once heard a family member or a friend regret the deceased person’s generosity. 

As we think about our hopes and dreams for us as a parish community, we continue to dream that we are a parish characterized by missionary outreach in support of St. Mary’s School in Tanzania, our outreach to urban food cupboards, for our support of refugees serviced by Mary’s Place, for Penfield Hope. We support and empower St Joseph’s School to provide Catholic education for our youth; for youth ministry; for all the ways we provide faith formation and sacramental preparation; for our pastoral care to the hospitalized and for people in hurting moments of life, for ChristLife that supports the spiritual renewal of so many parishioners.  The list goes on and on.

For us to continue to grow as a parish community, our stewardship of treasure is vital for our parish growth.  May your commitment this weekend enable the ongoing spiritual vibrancy of our parish ministries.

We ask you to place the commitment in the collection today.  If you forgot to bring your commitment today, No worries.  There are extra commitment cards in the pews.  We ask you to take a moment now to fill out a commitment card and place it in the collection today.

May our discipleship of the Lord Jesus Christ be characterized by a spirit of generosity that leads us to help build our parish community and leads to reach out in service to all our brothers and sisters.

May we take a moment now to fill out a commitment card if you haven’t already done so.  Thank you so and have a Blessed Day.