From the Pastor - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our readings today show us that living a stewardship way of life, that is, a life focused on serving God and His Kingdom, is not easy. They also show us that our lives belong to God, not to us and that God will indeed bring about the fulfillment of His kingdom. We just need to have faith that He can do it and commit to our small part in His grand design. This is both our privilege and responsibility as Christian stewards.
Jesus makes this privilege and responsibility clear in today’s Gospel passage from Luke. When the apostles ask the Lord to increase their faith, He tells them that even a mustard seed-sized faith is all that is needed to move mountains (because it is God who does the heavy lifting). We need only take the tiniest step forward, and He will do the rest.
But living our lives in His service is also very much our responsibility, as Jesus explains through the parable of the unprofitable servant later in this passage. Our Lord describes a scene in which a servant has just come in from tending to the master’s affairs and asks whether it would be reasonable for the master to begin waiting on his servant. Of course, it would not be reasonable! The servant would be expected to continue to serve his master until he has completed the work the master has given him that day. Jesus says we should have this same attitude before God.
The time, talents, and treasure entrusted to us are all God’s. Our very lives belong to Him. Whatever we do on God’s behalf with our lives and our gifts is simply our God-given responsibility.
The stewardship way of life makes the privilege and responsibility of serving Christ and His kingdom a reality.
© Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2022
Pastoral Pondering
This coming week, the priests of the Diocese will be on retreat with the Bishop. Church law requires that every priest make at least one canonical retreat each year. In my own experience, I know how important this time is. With that being said, I have not been able to arrange for another priest to be here for Holy Mass or confessions. The deacons, however, will offer a time of prayer during the morning Mass times. For those who would rather find a Mass to attend, since the religious priests usually do not join us, St. Peter (Charlotte), OL of Guadalupe (Charlotte) and St. James (Concord) would have their normal weekday schedules. Please pray for us during this time of retreat.
In a couple of weeks (16-18 October), we will be having our Fall Parish Mission with Casting Nets, an apostolic group dedicated to evangelization. The speakers are dynamic and really focus on helping each of us grow in our commitment to Christ. Their ultimate goal is helping parishes to become authentic schools of prayer, holiness, and missionary discipleship. Please plan to join us!