From the Pastor – 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 22, 2019

From the Pastor – 25 th Sunday in Ordinary Time

After today’s readings, we can’t say we have not been warned about the dangers of mixed up priorities. God’s Word is so very clear today on the necessity of putting Him first in all areas of our lives.

We see this in the First Reading from Amos. The Lord has harsh words for those who would take advantage of the poor, and whose priorities are not aligned with God’s.

In the Second Reading from St. Paul’s letter to Timothy, Paul gives us the antidote to the self-centeredness condemned in our First Reading. The antidote is to imitate Christ, “who gave Himself as a ransom for all.” Rather than thinking of Himself and how to “get ahead,” Christ gave Himself away — completely — for our sake. That is how we are to live.

In our Gospel passage from Luke, the Lord shows us how to bridge the gap between worldly thinking and priorities, and eternal thinking and priorities. Jesus tells the parable of the corrupt but clever steward who is about to get fired when the master discovers the steward has been squandering his property. Realizing his imminent unemployed status, the clever steward reaches out to the various debtors of his master to wheel and deal with them, making friends who would look out for him when he became jobless.

What if we put that kind of effort into our own tasks as good stewards of all God’s gifts to us? Into our ministries and apostolates, into the ways we could make more time for prayer as individuals, as couples, as families and as a parish? What if we got as creative as the “bad steward” in the use of our finances so that we could give more generously to the poor and to the advancement of God’s kingdom on the earth?

That’s our lesson and our challenge. ©Catholic Stewardship Consultants

Pastoral Pondering

As I am writing this, we just concluded our 15 th Eucharistic Congress in the Diocese of Charlotte. I have been on the Steering Committee of the Congress since the beginning, and it seems strange that so many years have passed. There was a tremendous participation this year with about 7,500 people assisting at the Closing Mass on Saturday. The estimates are much higher than that for the procession and the average for the event overall.

In recent weeks there has been in various news and social media outlets a discussion of the lack of belief in the Eucharist among those who identify themselves as Catholic based on a recent Pew Research Center Survey. The survey found that 69% said that they personally believe that the bread and wine are only “symbols of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.” Just 31% (one-third) affirmed their belief in the Church’s perennial teaching. The survey also found that the 69% noted above, also believe that the Church teaches that the bread and wine are only symbolic, and 22% know the Church’s teaching on transubstantiation and still reject it.

The Church teaches clearly and authoritatively that at the consecration the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Their appearance remains unchanged, but their substance is transformed. This is central to our understanding of who we are. In fact, for those who know the Church’s teaching and reject it, they cease to be Catholic, and their reception of Communion would be a sacrilege.

While the results of the survey are certainly upsetting, it should be a wakeup call for all of those who have responsibility for formation and catechesis. It also highlights the utter failure over the past several decades to pass on authentic Catholic teaching on this essential matter. While some of the blame rests with parents and guardians who have not passed on the faith to their children, the Lion’s share of the blame can be lain at the feet of Bishops, priests, deacons and religious who have failed to teach authentically and have often played “fast and loose” with the Sacred Liturgy.

Our Eucharistic Congress is one response to this crisis, but it is incumbent on every parish to respond as well. Bishop Jugis, a number of years ago, issued liturgical norms for the Diocese to bring the parishes into conformity with the liturgical laws of the Church. The obligation to implement these norms is entrusted especially to pastors but also to all of those entrusted with pastoral care and faith formation.

At Saint Mark, we have been intentional in our desire to celebrate the Mass reverently and faithfully to what the Church expects. At times, this has resulted in complaints and opposition from some corners. Nonetheless, our commitment is to be faithful to who we are and what we believe as Catholics. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church indicates in #1333:

At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. Faithful to the Lord's command the Church continues to do, in his memory and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion: "He took bread. . .." "He took the cup filled with wine. . .."

With this in mind, we ask the Lord to renew within us and within the Church throughout the world, belief in this fundamental teaching so that we might never be separated from Christ who comes to us in every Mass hidden in the small white host.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • August 2, 2025
Today’s Gospel passage comes as a pat on the back from Heaven for all of us striving to live a stewardship way of life. It reminds us why we live the way we do and why we make the choices we make. Let’s face it, if we truly embrace this way of life, there will be people who find our choices — based on serving God and others — downright foolish. But let’s see what God thinks. Spoiler alert: turns out Christian stewards are not the fools! In this passage, Jesus makes it clear that life is not about “stuff” as he tells the parable of the wealthy businessman who thought he had everything figured out. The man had such an abundance of stuff that he didn’t have room to store it all. So, thinking of earthly things and not on what is above, he decided to build a bigger place to store all that stuff. Patting himself on the back, he thought about what good times he would have in the years ahead. But Jesus tells us that day would turn out to be the man’s last day on the earth. And he had spent it thinking only of himself. How foolish! Don’t be ashamed of living differently from the people around you. Be confident as you set priorities based on what is above. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering With the election of Pope Leo XIV, many folks have expressed an interest in understanding the history of his most recent predecessor with the same name, Pope Leo XIII, who is considered a great proponent of Catholic Social teaching. His encyclical, Rerum Novarum, is the basis for our understanding of this important branch of Catholic theology, so I thought it might be useful to share a summary of that document. Rerum Novarum, an encyclical issued by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, addresses the social and economic challenges of the modern world, emphasizing the Church's role in addressing injustices within the rapidly industrializing society. It marks the beginning of modern Catholic social teaching and sets a framework for dealing with issues related to labor, capital, and society. Key Themes of Rerum Novarum: Dignity of Labor : It affirms the dignity of work and the rights of workers, including just wages, the right to form unions, and decent working conditions. Work is not merely an economic activity but a means for the personal development of individuals. Private Property : The encyclical upholds the right to private property, stating that it is natural and beneficial for individuals and families. However, this right carries with it the responsibility to use one's property for the common good. Role of the State : It outlines the role of the state in promoting justice and protecting the rights of individuals, especially the poor and vulnerable. The state should act as an agent for social order and the common good but should not overreach into individual freedoms. Class Cooperation : Pope Leo XIII advocates for the cooperative relationship between employees and employers, encouraging a spirit of mutual understanding and collaboration rather than conflict, aiming to harmonize interests for societal benefit. Social Justice : The encyclical is concerned with the effects of unchecked capitalism and socialism, critiquing both extremes and emphasizing a balance that respects human dignity while promoting social justice and the well-being of all members of society.  Rerum Novarum serves as a cornerstone for subsequent Catholic social thought, inviting us to consider how we can address economic and social issues while respecting human dignity and the common good.

From the Pastor - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 25, 2025
In our Gospel reading from Luke, some disciples of Jesus ask our Lord to teach them how to pray. Jesus instantly offers them the beautiful prayer which we, of course, call the Our Father. The Our Father is truly a steward’s prayer. In it, we call upon God in an intimate way, as Father. We ask that His will be done (not ours!) and that His kingdom come (not ours!). In other words, we remember that He is our Creator, everything is His, and our focus in life should be on His priorities, not our own. Then we ask Him to supply our needs (to give our daily bread), forgive our sins, and protect us from evil. That is, we proclaim our complete trust in His provision for us and mercy towards us. We, too, commit to extending mercy ourselves (as we forgive those who sin against us.) As we pray the words of the Our Father, we recognize this basic truth about ourselves and God: God is our Father, and we are beloved and infinitely blessed to be His children. This is the basis of a stewardship way of life. At the end of the Gospel passage, Jesus encourages us to pursue a relationship with the Father: Ask Him, seek Him, knock on His door! He can hardly wait to bless us, HIs children. Remember that this week, then go, be a blessing to others! Stewardship is just that simple. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering  Last week I was listening to an episode of the Conor Gallagher Podcast, in which the author, Paul Zucarelli, was being interviewed. I found it extremely interesting and thought provoking, so I thought I would provide a summary of his book this week. Faith Understood: An Ordinary Man’s Journey to the Presence of God by Paul Zucarelli is a memoir recounting the author’s near-death experience and its profound impact on his life and faith. Zucarelli, a successful businessman and CPA, died of sudden cardiac death on Pentecost Sunday in 2017 in Phoenix, Arizona, and was revived after two hours through what he attributes to intercessory prayer and divine intervention. During this experience, he describes encountering a heavenly realm, witnessing a radiant light filled with warmth and love, and hearing a divine voice assuring him of safety, which left him with no fear of death or desire to return to his body. The book goes beyond the near-death account, focusing on Zucarelli’s spiritual transformation and renewed commitment to living for God. It emphasizes themes of faith, hope, and love, illustrating how God uses trials to draw people closer to Him. Zucarelli shares how this event deepened his Christian faith, leading him and his wife, Beth, to dedicate their lives to evangelization, sharing their testimony across the United States. The narrative includes reflections on scripture, personal vulnerability, and five life lessons outlined in Chapter Nine, which readers found universally compelling and timeless. While some reviewers wished for more detailed descriptions of the heavenly experience, the book is praised for its authenticity, inspiring both believers and non-believers to explore God’s presence and the power of prayer. Proceeds from the book support a charitable foundation, reflecting Zucarelli’s mission of altruism. What I found most compelling about the podcast was the author’s sense of peace about how God has been working in his life since his near-death experiences. His story, which is deeply informed by his Catholic faith, shows the transforming power of God’s love in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations.