XXXI Sunday of OT:[C]: Wis 11:22--12:2; 2 Thes 1:11--2:2. Lk 19:1- 10

XXXI Sunday of OT:[C]: Wis 11:22--12:2; 2 Thes 1:11--2:2. Lk 19:1- 10

Jesus didn’t intend to stay there. He was passing through Jericho. But something happened that made Him change His plans. Compassion Mercy and Love happened. The little man that everyone hated, Zacchaeus, the head tax collector, had climbed a tree along the road that Jesus was walking down. He was merely curious. He wanted to see this Jesus. But then Jesus stopped under the tree and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly because today I must stay at your house.”  The man with the crowds around Him hanging on His every word, saw the man that everyone avoided, everyone hated, changed His plan to pass through Jericho, and said, “I must stay at your house.”  Shocking.  So also was Zacchaeus’ reaction. He promised to give half his possessions to the poor and payback four times over all he had extorted. Jesus cared about Him. Zacchaeus would not let the moment pass. And salvation came to little Zacchaeus’ house. 

Anecdote: Boris Becker was the world’s number one tennis star. At the height of his tennis career, he had won Wimbledon twice, once as the youngest player. He was rich and could afford all the material comfort and luxury he wanted. Yet he was an unhappy man. In spite of all his achievements, his life was so empty and meaningless that he contemplated suicide. “I had no inner peace,” he said. Becker is not alone in this feeling of emptiness. Many successful people who have ignored the inner life have felt that way. According to J. Oswald Sanders in his book Facing Loneliness, “The millionaire is usually a lonely man and the comedian is often more unhappy than his audience.” Jack Higgens, author of such successful novels as The Eagle Has Landed, was asked what he would like to have known as a boy. His answer: “That when you get to the top, there’s nothing there.”

We are all worried about acquiring possessions, richness, money, affections and high positions in the society. Accumulations of these worldly things cannot satisfy our inner self.  We need a curiosity to see Jesus and then experience the presence of God.  Even being in the presence, we are not able to experience the Divine for we are so much grabbed with the worldly things.  God can heal you. Just show an interest to see Him.

I think we all have had times that our sins have separated us from the people following the Lord, but our determination to be in His Presence has led us to a place we can view Him. So we go to Church in our sinfulness, just to get away from ourselves for a few moments. And then something happens. We decide that we want to be with the Lord forever. And we seek forgiveness, and are rewarded with peace. Or perhaps we come to Church only to keep someone else happy, a spouse, or parents, or children. We don’t intend to take our presence in Church all that seriously, but then we feel the call of Jesus to let Him stay with us, in our house, and everything changes.

Joke: 1)A pastor was asked by one of the presidential candidates,

"Name something my government can do to help your church if I am elected president." The pastor replied, "Quit making one-dollar bills." 

Life messages: 1) We need to accept the Divine invitation for repentance.  We are all sinners to a greater or lesser degree.  Jesus is inviting each one of us to total conversion today.  Let us remember that Jesus loves us in spite of our ugly thoughts, broken promises, sullied ideals, lack of prayer and Faith, resentments and lusts.  Hence, let us admit our sinfulness and accept God’s call to repentance, conversion and renewal of life.

2) we must avoid, and ignore distractions and detractors to our success. These come in the form of complains from those around us as the crowd did to Zacchaeus: “They all complained when they saw what was happening. ‘He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house…”Sympathizers and gossips must play their roles in our lives but we must not cave in because of their negative comments, complaints, and castigations. Instead, we must stand our ground as Zacchaeus did, remain poised and unperturbed in our quest to achieve the life changing divine encounter we are looking for.

3) Sometimes we are with Zacchaeus in the tree, and sometimes we are in the crowd following Jesus. But always Jesus is there for us, calling us away from sin, and calling us to join him in rejoicing over each person who has come into His Family. We pray today for the courage to accept His Presence into our lives, and in the lives of others.

Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: The Lord is full of mercy and compassion, slow to anger and of great kindness.  He has come to search out and save what was lost.  Let us be more concerned with doing the Lord’s work than with idle speculation about when he will come again.

Saints and Events in this Week:  4-Fourth-Monday-Saint Charles Borromeo, bishop; 9-Ninth-Saturday-The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

XXX Sunday in OT-[C]: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; 2Tm 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk18:9-14

XXX Sunday in OT-[C]: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; 2Tm 4:6-8, 16-18; Lk18:9-14

Introduction:  Today’s gospel says that true humility must be the hallmark of our prayers. However, the central focus of today’s parable is not on prayer itself, but rather on pride, humility and the role of grace in our salvation.

Anecdote:  The story is told that one day Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, visited a prison and talked with each of the inmates. There were endless tales of innocence, of misunderstood motives, and of exploitation. Finally the king stopped at the cell of a convict who remained silent. “Well,” remarked Frederick, “I suppose you are an innocent victim too?” “No, sir, I'm not,” replied the man. “I'm guilty and deserve my punishment.” Turning to the warden the king said, “Here, release this rascal before he corrupts all these fine, innocent people in here!” The biblical saying proves true, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

Explanation:  Jesus chose to make the Pharisee a principal character of his parable because Pharisees were the most highly respected religious group in the community. Pharisees were intensely committed to the religious traditions of the people. They refused any collaboration with the occupying Roman military power. They kept the commandments, voluntarily fasted beyond the obligatory annual day of fasting, and even cut down on their standard of living to support the needs of the temple.

Jesus chose a tax collector as the opposite principal character because tax collectors were generally held in contempt by the people. They were not only collaborators with the hated Roman oppressors, but by collecting funds to support a corrupt imperial system, made it impossible for many people to fulfill their financial obligations to the temple. These petty government officials were proficient at defrauding people by various strong-arm methods, and were regarded as no better than robbers.

The Pharisee of the parable had every good reason to thank God for the worthiness of his own life, and to despise the tax collector as one who was a threat not only to the temple, but to everything that was worthwhile and holy. When Jesus at the conclusion of his parable remarked that the tax collector went home justified, not the Pharisee, it must have seemed like a shockingly unfair conclusion.

Jesus in his parable obviously is not advocating collaboration with an oppressive military power, cheating people, moral relativism, or much less, forbidding evaluation of evil behavior or false teaching. The Pharisee is condemned because he assumed God’s role in judging the spiritual worth of a fellow human being. He exalted himself above the rest of humanity, and despised another through the comparisons he fashioned in his prayer.

Today at our Eucharist we ask to be freed from illusions that we have fashioned about ourselves, and pray for the grace of sharing in Christ’s humility. Through his authentic humility, we will be able to stand before God in our own unique truth, and thus make it possible to receive divine mercy and go home justified.

Joke: I once heard a humorous story about the Pope who was on a visit to America for a period of time. On his last day of the visit, he was delayed due to meetings and was unable to break away to catch a flight.

Since he couldn’t depend on his Pope Mobile, he phoned for a limousine. When the limousine arrived, the driver was joyfully surprised that it was the Pope who called for him. The driver became nervous and was beside himself. He proceeded to drive very slowly. The Pope became nervous and told him to hurry up. It did not make a bit of difference. The driver went slower; he wanted to keep the Pope in his limousine as long as he could. The Pope could not be delayed any longer so he asked to drive the limo himself. The Pope speed off and reached the speed of 85 miles an hour. The policeman who stopped him was shocked when he discovered the famous personality behind the wheel. He frantically phoned his police chief and said, “Chief, I have stopped a very important figure for speeding. I don’t know what to do?”

--“What do you mean? Give him a speeding ticket!”    --“Sir, in all honesty, I can’t.”

--“Why can’t you? The law is the law. Who is it anyway that you stopped?  Is it the mayor?”   --“No, sir.”     --“Is it the governor?”     --“No, sir.”     --“Is it a congressman?”    --“Is it the president?”   --“No, sir.”    --“Well, then, who is it?!”

--“I don’t know sir! All I know is that the Pope is driving him to the airport.”

Practical Applications: 1) Let us evict the Pharisee and revive the publican in each of us.  There is a big dose of the Pharisee's pride in us and only a small dose of the tax-collector's humility.  2) Let us have the correct approach in our prayer life by including praise and worship, thanksgiving and our request for pardon and forgiveness for our sins, along with our petitions.  3) Let us rid ourselves of self-justification and ask for God’s unconditional love and mercy during the Holy Mass.  It is a tragedy that those who justify themselves leave no room to receive grace. There must be a space in our lives   for grace to enter and work its miracle. On the other hand, if we are truly humble, we will find grace, mercy and peace. Hence, let us make the tax collector’s prayer, “Be merciful to me, a sinner” our daily prayer.   

Introduction: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: Humility is the recognition that no matter what our accomplishments, we still stand in need of the Lord.  God hears the cry of the poor and the oppressed, especially those who acknowledge their dependency upon him.  Having heard Paul’s cries for help, the Lord crowned him with eternal salvation.

Saints and Events in this Week: World Youth Day is observed today in the USA. 28 -Twenty eighth- Monday - Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles; November – 1 – First Friday -First Friday - All Saints Day -Holy day of obligation in USA; 2 - Second-Saturday - All Souls Day - The Commemoration of all the faithful departed; practice of visiting the graves of loved ones is recommended.

XXIX Sunday in OT-[C]:Ex 17: 8-13,II Tm3:14--4:2,Lk18:1-8

XXIX Sunday in OT-[C]:Ex 17: 8-13,II Tm3:14--4:2,Lk18:1-8

Introduction:  Today’s readings are mainly about prayer -- perseverance in prayer, constancy in prayer and trust in God as we pray. They are also about the Trustworthiness and Justice of God, a Justice that reaches out to the poor and the weak, enabling them to fight against injustice.

Exegesis:  Meanwhile he begins to tell us two stories about prayer.  One, (in Lk 18:1-8) about constancy in prayer; and another, (in Lk 18:9-14) about our attitude in prayer. This Sunday we take up the first story, about the woman who went knocking at the door of the agnostic judge.  Though the woman in the parable of today is seeking the help of the judge because she is in need, we should not lose sight of the context of the story. Luke tells us that “Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.” (Lk 18:1). Besides, this story comes after Jesus has been talking about the coming of the Kingdom of God (Lk 17:20-37).  And the story ends with the statement from the mouth of Jesus, “When the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Lk 18:8). Therefore, the parable is about praying as long as we are on the earth. It is about prayer in our daily life.

Explanation:  Wherever in the world you are, today, you can have access to emergency services just by ‘dialing’ a few numbers on your telephone. In the UK, it is 999; in the European Union it is 112, and in United States it is 911.  In some other countries there are separate numbers to call the police, fire services, or medical assistance.  I recently read in the internet that the first emergency number system to be deployed, anywhere in the world, was in London.  It was on 30 June 1937 that ‘999’ was first dialed and a special red light flashed on the telephone operator’s table.  Thus began the system of emergency services.  

How often have you called an emergency number in your life?  If ever you called an emergency number, I am sure, it now brings to your mind some traumatic experience. In any case, I suppose, the emergency number is not the most frequently dialed number on your personal telephone.  What is the most dialed number in your phone?  Is it that of your lover, spouse, child, parent, friend, business partner?  Perhaps, these days, thanks to the mobile phones you might even call the same person more than two, three times a day!  And what the frequently dialed number say is about your own priorities in life. 

Now, here is a more important question:  how would you describe your own acts of calling on God!  Are they emergency calls, or are they frequent calls?

A study among recovering alcoholics revealed that even alcoholics pray!  Sometimes, even when they are drunk, they pray.  But their prayer is often like calling an emergency number: “God get me out of this mess!”  But the study also revealed that prayer takes another form among recovered alcoholics.  Their prayer becomes more constant.  Their prayer is no more just sporadic ‘God-get-me-out-of-this-mess’ type of prayer, but a constant: “Father, lead me not into temptation.”

How would you describe your own prayer life?  Is it like calling emergency numbers?  Or it is a constant relationship?

Joke: The middle-aged farm couple had no children. As a last resort they put their trust in persistent prayer. And it worked.  The wife became pregnant, and at the end of her term, she was delivered of triplets. “Persistent prayer really works, doesn’t it?" she asked her husband. Her husband replied, “Seems to-- but I sure as heck didn’t pray for a bumper crop!”

Practical Applications: 1) We need to combine formal prayers with action prayer. We should perfect our prayers by bringing ourselves into God’s presence during our work several times during the day and by offering all that we are, that we have and that we do to God. This will help us to bring all our successes and failures, joys and sorrows, highs and lows to God in prayer. Along with formal and memorized prayers, this type of prayer life enables us to pray always and pray with constancy and trusting perseverance.

2) We should not expect to get whatever we pray for. This parable does not suggest that God writes a blank check, guaranteeing whatever we want whenever we want it in the form we ask for.  But we conveniently forget the fact that, often, a loving father has to refuse the request of a child, because he knows that what the child asks would hurt rather than help him

Introduction: Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: Through incessant prayer, we open ourselves more fully to understanding God’s will.  Through faith in the power of prayer, we experience God’s love and assistance.  Our Christian life is nourished by the scriptures we read and by our received tradition.

Saints and Events in this Week: 23-Twenty Third-Wednesday-Saint John of Capistrano, priest; 24-Twenty Forth- Thursday-Saint Anthony Mary Claret, bishop;

XXVIII Sunday in OT:[C] II Kgs 5:14-17;II Tm2:8-13;Lk17: 11-19

XXVIII Sunday in OT:[C] II Kgs 5:14-17;II Tm2:8-13;Lk17: 11-19

Introduction: "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." [Lk.17:19] Last week's readings spoke of living faith, a faith that shines in works. Today's readings speak of healing faith, a faith that embraces gratitude. For we are called to "Rejoice always, (to) pray without ceasing, (to) give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for (us)." [1 Thess. 5:16-8]

Interpretations: Naaman, the Syrian military General in the first reading, was not only an outcast because of his illness; he was also a non-Israelite. But he returned to thank Prophet Elisha for the cure, and as a sign of his gratitude, transferred his allegiance to the God of Israel. St. Paul , in the second reading, advises Timothy to be grateful to God even in his physical sufferings and amid the dangers associated with spreading the Word of God, because God will always be faithful to His people. Today’s  Gospel story tells us of a single non-Jewish leper (a “Samaritan heretic”), who returned to thank Jesus for healing him, while the nine Jewish lepers went their way. Under the false impression that healing was their right as God’s chosen people, they  hurried off to obtain health certificates from the priests.  “Where are the other nine?” Jesus asked the Samaritan leper and the crowd.   Today’s readings also remind us that faith and healing go hand in hand. It was faith that prompted Naaman to plunge himself into the waters of the Jordan River, and it was in faith in Jesus which prompted the lepers to present themselves to the priests. The readings also demonstrate the universal love of God for all peoples, including the Samaritans (whom the Israelites hated), and the pagans, Israel 's enemies whom Naaman represented.

Anecdote: Harry Ironside, the great American Bible teacher, went into a crowded restaurant to have a meal. Just as he was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited him to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, Ironside bowed his head in prayer. When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, “Do you have a headache?” Ironside replied, “No, I don’t.” The man continued, “Is something wrong with your food?” Ironside replied, “No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat.” The man said, “Oh, you're one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know that I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I don’t have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in!” Ironside said, “Yes, you're just like my dog. That’s what he does too!”

Exegesis: As a general rule, when a Jewish leper was healed, he had to go to the local priest to confirm that he was now clean and permitted to mix among the general public. For the Samaritan, more was demanded. Most likely, he had to go to his own priest near Mount Gerizim. This demand of Jesus required a greater act of obedience because of the travelling involved. While the demand was greater upon the Samaritan, he was the only one to show gratitude for the gift of healing that he received.

Today's readings provide us with an opportunity to reflect upon our own disposition during prayer. Do we beg God for a special favor but forget to show gratitude by giving thanks when our favor is obtained? Do we persevere in our prayers as Paul persevered in his sufferings? If praying while in a state of mortal sin and told by the priest to go and clean ourselves through the Sacrament of Confession so our prayer will be pleasing to the eyes of God, do we grumble, hesitate or even hardened our hearts?

Today's readings provide us with answers as to why some prayers are not answered. They teach us that we are healed when we show gratitude to God for the abundance of blessings that He has bestowed upon us from the moment that we were created.

Joke: I got a letter which reads: “Dear Pastor, I'm sorry I can't leave more money in the collection plate, but my father didn't give me a raise in my allowance. Could you have a sermon about a raise in my allowance? Love, Patty. Age 10, New Haven”

Practical applications: 1) We need to learn to be thankful to God. We can express our gratitude to our loving and providing God by offering grace before meals and by allotting a few minutes of the day for family prayer.  Fix a time like 7:30 in the evening, everybody in the family sit in front of a statue or icon of sacred heart and pray rosary everyday.

2) Be thankful to others: Let us show our gratitude to our forgiving God by forgiving others, and to a loving God by radiating His love, mercy and compassion to others, including our families and friends.  It is by taking good care of our old and sick parents that we express our gratitude to them for the sacrifices they made in raising us.   Visiting the sick is also an encouragement.

2) We need to celebrate the Holy Eucharist as the supreme act of thanksgiving:  The Greek word “Eucharist” means profoundly religious and thoroughly spiritual “thanksgiving.”  When we celebrate Holy Mass together, we are thanking God for giving us the great gift of His Son in the Holy Eucharist, so that we can share His divine life.  We express our thanks to God as a parish community by sharing our time, talents and material blessings in the various ministries and services of the parish and by our active participation.

Introduction: Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message: The Lord has revealed his saving power to all the nations! Naaman, a Syrian is healed, and lepers are made whole, but only the Samaritan returns to give thanks.  Let us remain steadfast in faith, and thankful for the Lord’s blessings.

Saints and Events in this Week: 14-Forteenth- Monday- Saint Callistus I, pope, martyr; 15-Fifteenth-Tuesday-Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin, doctor of the Church; 16-Sixteenth-Wednesday-Saint Hedwig, religious; Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, virgin; 17-Seventeenth-Thursday-Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop, martyr; 18-Eighteenth-Friday-Saint Luke, Evangelist; 19-Nineteenth-Saturday-Saints John de Brebeuf and Isaac Jogues, priests, and companions, martyrs from USA.; 20-Twentieth-Sunday-Mission Sunday.             

XXVII Sunday in OT[C]:Hb 1: 2-3--2: 2-4; II Tm 1: 6-8, 13-14; Lk 17: 5-10

XXVII Sunday in OT[C]:Hb 1: 2-3--2: 2-4; II Tm 1: 6-8, 13-14; Lk 17: 5-10

Introduction:  Jesus teaches his Apostles that faith is sharing in God’s power, and, hence, even in small quantities, it enables us to work miracles in our lives and in the lives of others. It is Faith which makes one just, putting him into right relation with God and neighbour.  In the Bible, Faith means reliance on, or confidence in, God, and Hope is the expectation of a better future. While the Apostles ask for an increase in the quantity of their faith Jesus reminds them that the quality of their faith is more important. Using a master-servant parable, Jesus also teaches them that, for faith to be effective, it must be linked with trust, obedience and total commitment.

Joke: A little boy wanted $100.00 very badly and his mother told him to pray to God with faith.  He prayed and prayed for two weeks, but nothing turned up.  Then he decided perhaps he should write God a letter requesting the $100.00. When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to God, they opened it up and decided to send it to the President. The President was so impressed and touched that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy a check for $5.00. He thought that this would appear to be a lot of money to a little boy. The little boy was delighted with the $5.00 and sat down to write a thank-you letter to God, which ran as follows: ”Dear God: Thank you very much for the money.  I noticed that you had to send it through Washington.  Dad said that as usual, they deducted $95.00 for themselves in the name of “Homeland Security” to save our country from terrorists.”

Exegesis: When Jesus demanded of his disciples that they respond with unconditional and unlimited forgiveness to their repentant offenders as we see in verses 3 and 4, the disciples asked Jesus for the Faith required to meet this demand. In addition, the Apostles were asking for greater confidence and trust in God, so that they might work the miracles which they had seen Jesus perform, like the withering of a fig-tree by a simple command. Jesus responded by telling them of the power of Faith, even a very little faith (verses 5 & 6).  He used the parables of the mustard seed and the good servant to help them understand the need for strong faith.

The parable of the mustard seed: “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed." Faith is used here in three senses.  1) First, Faith means "trust."   People "have faith in their banks" because their accounts are insured.  Similarly, we must put our trust in the authority of God and in the truth of His doctrines. St. Paul defines Faith as confidence and certainty (Hebrews 11:1).  2) Second, Faith refers to assent to doctrines about God taught by Jesus and the Church (e.g., our belief in the truths listed in the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed).   3) Third, Faith   refers to a “bond” or “relationship,” with God.   Jesus tells us that if we have even a small relationship with our heavenly Father, we can do anything.  No matter how weak it seems, Faith is an overwhelming power.  Even a little Faith can direct our lives, comfort us when we are discouraged and challenge us when we are complacent.

Practical Applications: 1) We need to thank God, giving Him the credit for our well- being.  Following the example of the Apostles, we must pray for greater faith and trust in God.  Most of us are inclined to forget God’s providence when our earthly affairs are going well. 

2) We need to increase our faith by becoming dutiful servants of God.   A zealous Christian can speak more convincingly to his or her neighbor about the need for God and an upright life through his or her own daily actions than through explaining religious doctrines. A sincere Christian can find many ways to help to make Christ known to his neighbor. 

3) We must cultivate our Faith through prayer, Bible study, and leading a well-disciplined spiritual life. Faith is the gift of God. So we must pray that God will increase our Faith. Time spent with God in prayer is fundamental to the development of Faith.

Introduction:  (XXVII)Twenty Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message:  Faith is a gracious gift from God.  It can neither be earned nor bought, only responded to with works of love and service.  A vibrant faith can make us strong, loving  and wise, confident that God will guard us from all harm.  God is the Rock of our salvation.

Saints and Events in this week:  7-Seventh-Monday-Our Lady of the Rosary; 9-Nineth-Wednesday-Saints Denis, bishop, and companions, martyrs; Saint John Leonardi, priest;

XXVI Sunday in OT[C]:Amos 6:1,4-7;1Tim6:11-16;Lk16:19-31

XXVI Sunday in OT[C]:Amos 6:1,4-7;1Tim6:11-16;Lk16:19-31

Introduction:  The main theme of this Sunday is the warning that selfish and extravagant use of God’s blessings like wealth without sharing it with the poor and the needy is a serious sin deserving eternal punishment. Today’s readings stress the covenant responsibility of the rich for the poor reminding us the truth that wealth without active mercy for the poor is great wickedness.

Anecdote:  A nine year old child entered an ice-cream shop and asked how much is for a cup of ice-cream.   The waiter said: “fifteen dollars” Then the child took all his money from his pocket and counted.  Then asked again to the waiter: “how much is for a small cup ice-cream?”  The waiter lost patience and got angry and with a loud voice said: “Twelve Dollars.” Child ordered small cup. He sat, ate the ice-cream, paid the bill and left the shop.  As the waiter went to take the empty plate and cup at the child’s seat, his eyes filled with tears as he saw that the child has given 3dollars tip.  This is life.  Make others also happy with what you have.

Exegesis: People in Jesus’ time would dip into stew pots with bread, bite off what they wanted and just throw whatever was left onto the floor. Lazarus longed to eat the scraps that fell from the Rich Man’s table.  Lazarus wasn’t even given these scraps.  The dogs got them.  And then the dogs went outside and licked Lazarus’ sores.  The Rich Man never saw this.  He never saw Lazarus, as a fellow human being. His possessions made him blind to those around him.  The first time that the Rich Man really saw Lazarus as a person, not as an eyesore, was when it was too late.  From Hell the Rich Man looked up and saw Lazarus.

Amos in the first reading issues a powerful warning to those who seek wealth at the expense of the poor and who spend their time and their money on themselves. The angry prophet prophecies that those rich and unsympathetic people in the Southern kingdom of Judah will be punished by God with exile because they don’t care for their poor and suffering brothers in the North.  The Psalm praises Yahweh, who cares for the poor. In the second reading, Paul admonishes us to "pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness" – noble goals in an age of disillusionment – rather than riches. In today’s gospel Jesus warns us pointing to the destiny of the rich man who neglected his duty to show mercy to poor Lazarus. The rich man's punishment was not for having riches, but for neglecting the Scriptures and what they taught and thereby the poor.

Joke:  The teacher said; “Take a pencil and paper, and write an essay with the title ‘If I Were a Millionaire.’”

Everyone but Joe, who leaned back with arms folded, began to write feverishly.
“What’s the matter,” the teacher asked. “Why don’t you begin?”

“I’m waiting for my secretary,” Joe replied.

Practical Applications: 1) We are all rich enough to share our blessings with others.  God has blessed each one of us with wealth or health or special talents or social power or political influence or a combination of many blessings. Share it.

2) Remember that sharing is the criterion of Last Judgment: Matthew (25: 31ff) tells us that all the six questions to be asked to each one of us by Jesus who comes in glory as our judge are based on how we have shared our blessings from him  (food, drink, home, mercy and compassion), with others.

3) Do not pretend to be blind to poor and needy. Rich never saw Lazarus, as a fellow human being. His possessions made him blind to those around him.  The first time that the Rich Man really saw Lazarus as a person, not as an eyesore, was when it was too late. 

4) Our choices here determine the kind of eternity we will have. It has been put this way: "Where we go hereafter depends on what we go after, here." Where we will arrive depends on what road we travel. We get what we choose, what we live for. We are shaping our moral character to fit one of two places.

Introduction:  (XXVI)Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message:  Amos condemns the complacency of the rich who seek only their own comfort.  In his parable about the rich man and Lazarus, Jesus echoes Amos, exhorting those who have to share with those who have not.  Self-sufficiency must never blind us to the needs of others.  Only in this way do we keep God’s commandments in integrity and in truth.

Saints and Events in this week:  30-Monday-Saint Jerome, priest, doctor of the Church; 1-October-Tuesday-Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin, doctor; 2-Wednesday-The Holy Guardian Angels; 4-Friday-Saint Francis of Assisi

XXV Sunday in OT[C]: Am 8: 4-7; I Tm 2: 1-8; Lk 16: 1-13

XXV Sunday in OT[C]: Am 8: 4-7; I Tm 2: 1-8; Lk 16: 1-13

Introduction:  All three readings for today’s liturgy pertain to the subject of faithful stewardship. Condemning the crooked business practices of the 8^th century BC of Jewish merchants of Judea, the prophet Amos, in the first reading, reminds the Israelites to be faithful to their Covenant with Yahweh by practicing justice and mercy as God’s faithful stewards. He warns us against having the making of money by whatever means as the goal of our life. The second reading, from I Timothy, instructs the first-century Judeo-Christians to become true stewards of the gospel of Jesus, the only mediator between God and man, by preaching the “Good News” to the pagans and including them in intercessory prayers. Today’s Gospel challenges us to use our blessings -- time, talents, health and wealth -- wisely and shrewdly, so that they will serve for our good in eternity.  We are on the right road only if we use our earthly wealth to attain our heavenly goal.

Exegsis: The parable of the crooked steward or dishonest manager has shocked good Church people for centuries.   St. Augustine said, “I can’t believe that this story came from the lips of our Lord.” Jesus tells a paradoxical story about the steward (manager), of the estate of a rich absentee landlord. The steward was an out-and-out rascal. But his boss praised him for his rascality because he acted with foresight. Facing the coming return of his master and an audit of his accounts, the steward cleverly converted the debtors of his master into his own debtors.  He bought "friends" with his master’s money, and used these "friends” to secure a means of livelihood for the rapidly and certainly approaching point when he would be dismissed (for his previous embezzlement). In Luke’s account there are four morals drawn from the story to unfold its meaning.  The parable advises us to take inventory of the resources placed in our charge: time, talents, opportunities, health, intelligence, education, and other advantages.  It also challenges us to use these resources wisely so that they will serve for our good in eternity. 

Anecdote: Søren Kierkegaard, the Danish philosopher, once told about a make-believe country where only ducks lived. On Sunday morning all the ducks came into church, waddled down the aisle, waddled into their pews and squatted. Then the duck minister came in, took his place behind the pulpit, opened the Duck Bible and read, "Ducks! You have wings, and with wings you can fly like eagles. You can soar into the skies! Ducks! You have wings!" All the ducks yelled, "Amen!" and then they all waddled home. [Jim Burns, Radically Committed (Dallas: Word Publishing, 1991).] No one flew or even tried. Friends, there’s just too much truth to that little fable. Using the parable of a rascally manager in today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges us to see that it is time for the children of light to quit waddling. It's time for us to soar by ingeniously using our God-given talents and blessings for the welfare of others, thus glorifying God and becoming eligible for our eternal reward. May we be the people that Jesus praises because we saw something that needed to be done and we did it.

Lessons of the parable as presented by Luke:  1. Let the children of light acquire the prudence of the children of this world (verse 8).  Christians should be as prudent and resourceful in acquiring goodness as the steward was in acquiring money and making his future safe.  2. Invest temporal goods to acquire eternal welfare.  A man can use his wealth not only to make life easier for himself, but also for his fellow-man.  3. Integrity and fidelity are the true yardsticks for promotion and eternal reward (verse 10).  How we treat what belongs to another is a test of our fitness to be entrusted with our own possessions.  4. "No servant can serve two masters" (verse 13).  We cannot serve God on a part-time basis.  Once a man chooses to serve God, every moment of his time and every atom of his energy belong to God.

Joke:  Abraham wanted a new suit, so he bought a nice piece of cloth and then tried to locate a tailor.  The first tailor he visited looked at the cloth and measured Abraham, then told him the cloth was not enough to make a suit. Abraham was unhappy with this opinion and sought another tailor.  This tailor measured Abraham, then measured the cloth, and then smiled and said, "There is enough cloth to make a pair of trousers, a coat and a vest, please come back in a week to take your suit." After a week Abraham came to take his new suit, and saw the tailor's son wearing trousers made of the same cloth.  Perplexed, he asked, "Just how could you make a full suit for me and trousers for your son, when the other tailor could not make a suit only?" "It's very simple," replied the tailor, "The other tailor has two sons."

Practical Applications: 1) We need to be faithful in little things of life: As Blessed Mother Teresa used to recommend, “Do little things with great love.”

2) We need to act shrewdly, trusting in the power and assistance of God.  The manager in Jesus’ story used all his resources to secure his future.  At our disposal we have hope in God’s justice, faith in God’s assistance, and trust in God’s grace. We have the Holy Mass and the seven sacraments as sources of divine grace, the holy Bible as the word of God for daily meditation and practice, and the Spirit-guided Church to direct us. These are the best possible resources; we need to use them in such a way that it will be said of us,"And the master commended them because they acted so shrewdly."

Introduction:  (XXV)Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Message:  Amos cries out against those who exploit the poor for the sake of extortion and greed.  They seek to serve only themselves rather than the Lord.  By giving ourselves to God rather than money, we can truly pray with blameless hands for all those in need, especially the poor whom the Lord will raise up.

Saints and Events in this week:  23-Monday-Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, priest also known as Padre Pio; 26-Thursday-Saints Cosmas and Damian, martyrs; 27-Friday-Saint Vincent de Paul, priest; 28- Saturday-Saint Wenceslaus, martyr; Saint Lawrence Ruiz and companions, martyrs;