From the Pastor – 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
From the Pastor – 33 rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
We may long to hear the Lord say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” as He does with the first two servants mentioned in the Parable of the Talents in today’s Gospel from Matthew. However, although the third servant did not squander or waste the gifts (talents) he had received, the Master’s reaction was not the same.
As we have often stated, stewardship is an active way of life. There is nothing passive about it. The Lord expects us to do things, to take the gifts we receive and to share them and multiply them, as was the case in the first two servants cited in the parable.
If we really wish to hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” to us when we are finally judged, we need to do something to earn that praise. The key word in that sentence is “do.” There is nothing spiritual or abstract about being ready for Jesus’ return and judgment of us. God has gifted us in a multitude of ways. We need to recognize those gifts; acknowledge those gifts; be grateful for those gifts; and most of all use those gifts to benefit the Church and others.
What have we done with our time, our money, and our abilities? In our Church we recognize and point to sins of omission — that is, things we did not do, but should have. Like the first two servants in the parable, it is not just a case of preserving what God has given us, it is a case of using it, increasing it, and returning it to the Lord.
Pastoral Pondering
As I write this, I am preparing to celebrate the Funeral Mass for one of our former employees, Karen Zaleski. Karen died after a long battle with cancer. She had gone on long-term disability a few months back after working in the Finance Department and, prior to that, the Pre-K.
Death is not something most folks like to think about, but it can be quite fruitful if it is approached properly. As we approach the end of another liturgical year, I believe it is a good time to ponder our mortality. In visiting folks who are dying, they often speak of things they regret. Perhaps it is an unresolved conflict from the past or a failure to be thankful, but just about everyone that I have ministered to over the years has had something that he or she was thinking about.
For my part I want to say thank you to the unsung heroes who make up the parish staff. They all, each in his or her own way, build up the Kingdom of God here at St. Mark. Many of them work long hours, striving to meet the many demands placed on them and receive very little recognition for their efforts. That’s just the reality of ministry. All of us get busy, and it is very easy to take for granted and overlook something as simple as a heartfelt “thank you.” But such expressions of gratitude mean a great deal.
The lay staff at St. Mark is composed of dedicated individuals who love God and truly want to make Christ present in their daily work. As is the case with all of us, they don’t always do it perfectly, but they strive to. They are often required to deal with complaints and difficulties and expectations that seem impossible and yet they patiently give themselves over to the day to day work of parish life. They and all the volunteers that collaborate with them make St. Mark live and breathe.
So, to each of them I say thank you. I appreciate what you do, and I pray that God will continue to bless you and give you the strength to continue giving of yourselves so that others might come to know the ONE who gives all good things.