26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

October is a blockbuster month in the Catholic liturgical calendar. During this month we celebrate the feast days of some of our most popular saints: St. Therese of the Child Jesus (Oct. 1); the Guardian Angels (Oct. 2); St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4); Our Lady of the Rosary (Oct. 7); St. Teresa of Jesus (Oct. 15); St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and St. Gerard Majella (Oct. 16); St. Luke, whose gospel we are reading this year (Oct. 18) and St. John of Capistrano (Oct. 23) to name a few. October also is the Month of the Rosary and Respect Life Month. And, finally, the first Sunday in October, today, is Respect Life Sunday.

In their 2001 Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities the US Conference of Catholic Bishops stated, “We proclaim that human life is a precious gift from God; that each person who receives this gift has responsibilities toward God, self and others; and that society, through its laws and social institutions, must protect and nurture human life at every stage of its existence.” Our responsibility toward God is one of the ideas presented in today’s Gospel from Luke 17:5-10. Jesus told his disciples and he tells us, “When you have done all you have been commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do.’” Life is a gift from God. In gratitude for this gift, we all should live in obedience to God’s will. This is something we aspire to do. Living it is more of a challenge.

The theme for Respect Life 2022 - 2023 is: Called to Serve Moms in Need. Prominent in the reflection for Respect Life Sunday 2022 are the first two verses of Mary’s great Canticle, the Magnificat, “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior” (Luke 1:46-47). In this reflection we are reminded that, “Mary speaks a message of hope—not only to Elizabeth, but also to every mother in need and to each of us.” It is our invitation to, “step out in love and compassion. It is a summons to make haste to help vulnerable women who may be isolated and alone. By doing so, we too can bear Christ within us and help others experience His presence.”

O Blessed Mother,

you received the good news of the incarnation of Christ,

your Son, with faith and trust.

Grant your protection to all pregnant mothers facing difficulties.

Guide us as we strive to make our parish communities

places of welcome and assistance for mothers in need.

Help us become instruments of God’s love and compassion.

Mary, Mother of the Church,
graciously help us build a culture of life and a civilization of love,
together with all people of good will,

to the praise and glory of God,

the Creator and lover of life.

Amen.

Evangelium vitae 105 © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Vatican City. 

Adapted with permission. All rights reserved.

Feast of the Archangels

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

We are familiar with Michael, the fighter and warrior of God, and with Gabriel, God’s messenger to Mary and Zechariah for the birth of their sons. The Archangel Raphael, “the Medicine of God,” appears in the book of Tobit to heal Tobit from his blindness​.

Miracles

One of the mistakes people make is expecting God only in miracles, in flashes, and in instant gratification.

The church looks for miracles in order to declare a saint. But life is full of miracles! For an alcoholic or addict to live one day sober is a miracle. To love a person after they make a big mistake is a miracle. To be able to love yourself after you make a big mistake is a miracle. To follow God’s call day after day is a miracle. To take up your cross daily is a miracle.

God is often found in the whisper of the wind, the beauty of a flower, snow covering the tiny branches of a tree, the voice of a friend.

To be looking and listening for God is enough! To find God in your sister or brother is a miracle.

Heaven and Hell

A very old man knew that he was going to die very soon. Before he died, he wanted to know what heaven and hell were like, so he visited the wise man in his village.

“Can you please tell me what heaven and hell are like?” he asked the wise man.

“Come with me and I will show you,” the wise man replied.

The two men walked down a long path until they came to a large house. The wise man took the old man inside, and there they found a large dining room with an enormous table covered with every kind of food imaginable. Around the table were many people all thin and hungry, who were holding 12-foot chopsticks. Every time they tried to feed themselves, the food fell off the chopsticks.

The old man said to the wise man, “Surely this must be hell. Will you now show me heaven?” The wise man said, “Yes, come with me.”

The two men left the house and walked further down the path until they reached another large house. Again they found a large dining room and in it a table filled with all kinds of delicious foods. The people there were happy and appeared well fed, but they also held 12-foot chopsticks.”

“How can this be? Said the old man. “These people have 12-foot chopsticks and yet they are happy and well fed.”

The wise man replied, “In heaven the people feed each other.”

Bridges of Faith

In 1847, a boy named Homan Walsh went out to fly a kite. Homan was taking part in a kite-flying contest, so he brought his best kite, and plenty of string.

He stood on the Canadian bank of the Niagara River, letting more and more of that string go out, and his little-boy's kite kept going higher, and higher, and higher until it stretched nearly 1,000 feet. When a stranger on the American side of the Niagara Gorge grabbed Homan's string, the crowd that had gathered let up a mighty roar. For the first time in history, people on opposite sides of this great gorge were holding onto the same string. And Homan won $5, the top prize in the contest.

There was much more than $5 at stake, however. In short order, the string was tied to a tree on the American shoreline, and a light cord tied to the Canadian end of the string. The cord was then pulled across the 800-foot span. A rope was tied to the cord, and pulled safely across. To the rope was attached a wire cable, and to the cable, a thicker cable attached. It was the beginning of an engineering victory over one of the greatest natural barriers that had separated Americans and Canadians.

Fifty-foot towers were built on each side of the river, and more cables became a part of the picture. In time, people rode across the river in buckets, for $1 each, and then they walked on a foot bridge for a quarter. But less than a year after Homan's kite first flew across the river, people were safely riding their horse-drawn carriages across the Niagara, on a marvelous suspension bridge that hung 220 feet over the rushing water.

Eventually, there were 15 bridges that spanned the Niagara, six of which are in use today. The thousands of passengers that travel across the multi-lane, high-speed bridges today think nothing of the bridge, some of them so familiar with the path, they barely glance at the scenic view. More than likely, it has never occurred to most of those on the great bridges today that somewhere in the past, just to get this modern-day miracle under way, somebody had to fly a kite.

If great bridges can get their start with a boy's kite and string, then I'll tell you that great spiritual experiences can get their start with amazingly simple decisions.

The Lord's Supper is one of the world's simplest meals. From one vantage point, it might not seem much more significant than a boy flying a kite. It might seem little more than a string of a connection between you and God. Our offer to you today is make that connection. From the smallest beginnings can come great bridges of faith.

Young Bride

A young bride was extremely anxious on the day before her wedding. The priest realized she was nervous, and he asked her about it.

"I'm going to make a mess of the whole thing," she said. "There are just so many people looking at me!"

The priest broke the ceremony down into small parts. "Hey," he said. "This is your church, your family's church. You know everything about this church. So, as your dad takes you by the arm, concentrate on the aisle. Just focus on the aisle."

"OK," she said.

"Then, as you turn the corner, you'll see the altar. It's the same altar that's been here for years, and you're familiar with it. Focus on the aisle, and then the altar."

"OK," she said.

"And then," said the priest, "you'll see your groom! Just focus on him, and you're there! Focus on the aisle first, altar second, and him third!"

So, just as she'd been promised, she zoned in on the three simple steps. But imagine her Dad's feelings when he heard her saying it over and over and over, as they got closer and closer and closer . . . "Aisle, altar, him. Aisle-altar-him. Aisle-alter him!"

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sin is something we don’t like to talk about much. It makes us uncomfortable. It makes us squirm. It isn’t socially acceptable. Many people find it easier to talk about other people’s sin deflecting attention from their own sin (which, by the way, is a sin). So, what exactly is sin? The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches us that,

1849 Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity. It has been defined as “an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law.”

1850 Sin is an offense against God: “Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.” Sin sets itself against God's love for us and turns our hearts away from it. Like the first sin, it is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become “like gods,” knowing and determining good and evil. Sin is thus “love of oneself even to contempt of God.” In this proud self- exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus, which achieves our salvation.

The parable in today’s gospel from Luke 16:19-31 (the Rich man and Lazarus) is a stark reminder of the consequences of sin – even sins of omission. To ignore the needs of others has dire significance for anyone who follows Jesus Christ. The rich man had many opportunities to reach out to Lazarus and help him. But he didn’t. He was so self-absorbed and complacent that he never noticed Lazarus starving at his door. Sadly, for the rich man his selfishness landed him in hell while Lazarus was carried by angels to the bosom of Abraham for eternity.

All of us are sinners. Sin is part of the human condition that we inherited from the Fall of Adam and Eve. But we do not need to become prisoners to sin. Jesus Christ through his passion vanquished sin. His sacrifice “becomes the source from which the forgiveness of our sins will pour forth inexhaustibly” (CCC 1851).

In the First letter to Timothy (6:17-19) St. Paul provides a practical guide for those of us living a Christ centered life in a prosperous age: “Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share, thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.”

God of the poor and the powerless,

you reach out to us,

in every empty hand, in every hungry person.

Teach us to understand sin

not only as doing evil

but also as failing to do good.

Open our eyes to see you,

and our hands to serve you

in everyone we meet.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

AMEN

Make Your Plans

The story is told of Morris, a Russian man, who saved his rubles for twenty years to buy a new car. After choosing the model and options he wants, he's not the least bit surprised or even concerned to learn that it will take two years for the new car to be delivered. He thanks the salesman and starts to leave, but as he reaches the door he pauses and turns back to the salesman. "Do you know which week two years from now the new car will arrive?"

The salesman checks his notes and tells the man that it will be two years to the exact week. The man thanks the salesman and starts out again, but upon reaching the door, he turns back again.

"Could you possibly tell me what day of the week two years from now the car will arrive?"

The salesman, mildly annoyed, checks his notes again and says that it will be exactly two years from this week, on Thursday.

Morris thanks the salesman and once again starts to leave. Halfway through the door, he hesitates, turns back, and walks up to the salesman.

"I'm sorry to be so much trouble, but do you know if that will be two years from now on Thursday in the morning, or in the afternoon?"

Visibly irritated, the salesman flips through his papers yet another time and says sharply that it will be in the afternoon, two years from now on Thursday.

"That's a relief!" says Morris. "The plumber is coming that morning!"

We often have to make plans far in advance so as to avoid any conflicts. Before making any commitments -- you know the routine -- we have to pull out the date book (or the iPhone). "The kids have got a soccer game that night at 7:00, but the next night is free." Planning ahead isn't wrong; in fact, it's a scriptural principle. What makes it wrong, though, is planning ahead without any thought of God.

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit'; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.' " (James 4:13-15)

Go ahead! Make your plans! Fill in that date book!

Just make sure that God hasn't been left out.

Give it a Try

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The great 20th century journalist H. L. Mencken observed, “In any combat between a rogue and a fool the sympathy of mankind is always with the rogue.” Homer’s Odysseus is an ancient rogue we still talk about. Robin Hood appeared in the 14th century and is still with us. And a contemporary example of a sympathetic rogue is the Walt Disney character “Captain” Jack Sparrow. Jack Sparrow is a sly, shifty pirate who uses his wits and negotiation skills to survive. He is the epitome of an antihero. Jesus presents us with a similar example in today’s gospel from Luke 16:1-13. In the parable of the dishonest steward, we have a shrewd con artist who ingratiates himself to his master’s debtors in order to save himself. The master in turn commends the steward for his ingenuity and creative problem solving.

Scripture scholars all over the world debate the various messages in this parable. What they all agree on as the primary lesson is that worldly people are “wiser,” more energetic and zealous in their pursuit of wealth and material possessions than followers of Jesus are in pursuing the Kingdom of God.

This message Jesus offers us is very straightforward. Our Lord is not praising dishonest practices, he is simply observing the ingenuity, energy and effort the steward expended save himself. If we applied as much ingenuity and energy to building God's kingdom as the steward did to save himself, our world would be a very different place. As Jesus said, "the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light" (Luke 16: 8).

You have called us, O God,

to love and serve you as the one only God.

Make us wise and resourceful,

children of the light who continue your work in this world

with untiring concern for justice and the integrity of creation.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever. 

 AMEN.

Ancestors

Spirit of my ancestors,

this day I join in acknowledging the blessedness of the many
who inspired me and shaped my faith.

I turn in memory and appreciation
toward those ancestors in my family of origin
who influenced and encouraged me to live as my best self.

I bring to mind others who enriched my life
and led me further on my journey of personal transformation.

I honor all those who sacrificed and suffered
in order for peace and justice to be furthered on our planet.

I give thanks and rejoice for the countless, unnamed persons
those goodness left a lasting mark of kindness and compassion.

May the remembrance of each of these blessed ones
deepen my personal commitment
to leave a trace of goodness wherever I go.

When I depart this sphere of life may I do so
having contributed to individual and world peace
and may this world be a better place because of me and my ancestors​.

Self Love

"Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin as self-neglect."  ~William Shakespeare

We will never achieve a feeling of true safety by seeing our self-image in terms of our character defects. To give our shortcomings such power is to ensure that we will never have enough faith or strength to go forward: we are either condemned to live in the past, trying to change it, or to the future, trying to control it.

The only safety is in the present, affirming the positive qualities we possess. Even if we're in deep sorrow this moment, we can feel safe by appreciating that we have the ability to grieve, which takes courage and passion for life. Appreciating our many good points is a way to counteract the fear that eats away at our security.

There are a number of ways we can affirm our worth. We can write affirmations, ask others for positive support, list our good qualities, and include our progress in recovery in our daily inventory. We deserve to have the freedom that comes from feeling safe within ourselves.

What am I saying to myself right now

"You're a failure" or "You're wonderful, and I love you"?

The Serenity Prayer is well known in most circles. You can find it printed on coffee mugs, plaques, tapestries, cards, etc. I’m sure you’re all familiar with it. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference”. I cannot begin to count the times I have prayed this prayer. Many times it is part of my morning devotions. I ask God to give me peace for the day to accept the things I cannot change. On more than one occasion I have prayed this prayer under my breath and quickly! When someone was in my face I wanted God to give me peace to accept what I obviously wasn’t going to be able to change.

To accept things that we cannot change is hard for us humans. We have conquered the wildest of rivers with our great dams. We have harnessed the power of the atom. We have found cures and vaccines for many diseases and continue to make great strides in every field. The idea of asking God for peace to accept those things we cannot change is alien to us. Yet there are things I cannot change. I cannot change people. As much as I would like to I simply cannot make people love God and turn to him for help. I can show the way. I can preach the way. I can offer to go with them on the way but I cannot make them change. I cannot change history either. What has happened is done. Not even God rewrites history. It stands as a record of the successes and failures of each of us for all to see. Whether it is people or history or other circumstances, God is able to give us peace in the midst of the situation.

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference”.

Each day is different and has a surprise in it, like a Cracker Jack box. ~ Alpha English

It's interesting to ponder the notion of surprise. Not every one of them, in old age, is all that welcome. Hearing bad news about a friend or having a special trip we'd been counting on canceled can leave us dismayed and worried, right along with surprised. Seeking solace from others while cultivating a willingness to accept that all things happen for a reason gives us the armor we need to make the best of every situation and disappointment.

It's an interesting image to think of each day as a box of Cracker Jacks. The moments of our lives have been very tasty. Some were sweet, some were a bit salty, and there were always wholly unexpected moments, the surprises that we were ready for even though we may not have imagined as much. We can look forward to the same daily agenda throughout the remaining years.

Does it help to know that there is a divine plan unfolding in our lives? Many of us find comfort in that. All of us can cultivate that belief.

I am ready for my surprise today! It is meant for me at this time.​

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s readings are so appropriate for us as we remember the twenty-first anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. There is an entire new generation of people who will not remember what the USA was like before this tragic event. For those who do remember, some still respond to the events of that day with anger, bitterness, anguish and fury. For the people who actually witnessed the planes crashing into the twin towers, the Pentagon and the field in Pennsylvania, for those who lost family members, friends and colleagues, today must rekindle heartbreaking and painful memories. Yet in the midst of our sorrow and hurt, Pope Francis reminds us that “mercy is not only an action of the Father, it becomes a criterion for ascertaining who his true children are. In short, we are called to show mercy because mercy has first been shown to us. Pardoning offences becomes the clearest expression of merciful love, and for us Christians it is an imperative from which we cannot excuse ourselves. At times how hard it seems to forgive! And yet pardon is the instrument placed into our fragile hands to attain serenity of heart. To let go of anger, wrath, violence, and revenge are necessary conditions to living joyfully” (Misericordiae Vultus, 9).

All our readings for this Sunday highlight the role of mercy in our lives as daughters and sons of God. Even the wrath-filled God of the Old Testament presented in our first reading from Exodus had a capacity for mercy. Saul the Pharisee who testified that he was “a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant” in the 1st Letter of Timothy experienced the transforming, merciful treatment of God becoming St Paul, the greatest evangelizer history has ever known. But it is in the Gospel from Luke 15:1-32 that we see the full impact of God’s merciful intervention in our lives. Pope Francis writes, “In the parables devoted to mercy, Jesus reveals the nature of God as that of a Father who never gives up until he has forgiven the wrong and overcome rejection with compassion and mercy. We know these parables well, three in particular: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the father with two sons (cf. Lk 15:1-32). In these parables, God is always presented as full of joy, especially when he pardons. In them we find the core of the Gospel and of our faith, because mercy is presented as a force that overcomes everything, filling the heart with love and bringing consolation through pardon” (Misericordiae Vultus, 9).

As we begin this week, let us make it a week of prayer, repentance and forgiveness as we ask God our Father for the grace to grow in love. Again, quoting Pope Francis from Misericordiae Vultus, “mercy is a key word that indicates God’s action towards us. He does not limit himself merely to affirming his love, but makes it visible and tangible. Love, after all, can never be just an abstraction. By its very nature, it indicates something concrete: intentions, attitudes, and behaviours that are shown in daily living. The mercy of God is his loving concern for each one of us. He feels responsible; that is, he desires our wellbeing and he wants to see us happy, full of joy, and peaceful. This is the path which the merciful love of Christians must also travel. As the Father loves, so do his children. Just as he is merciful, so we are called to be merciful to each other.”

What do you look like, O God of compassion?

A shepherd who carries home the lost sheep:

a woman who sweeps the whole house to find a single coin:

a father who never gives up hope that the child who hurt him

will come home to be loved.

So in Jesus you have come searching for us.

May we never forget how much we are loved.

May we never refuse to love others as much.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

AMEN.

There’s an old story of the boy who stood on a sidewalk, waiting on a bus. A man walking by spotted the boy, and gave him some gentle instruction. “Son,” he said, “if you’re waiting on the bus, you need to move to the street corner. That’s where the bus stops for passengers.” “It’s OK,” said the boy. “I’ll just wait right here, and the bus will stop for me.” The man repeated his argument, but the boy never moved. Just then, the bus appeared. Amazingly, the bus pulled over to where the boy stood, and the child hopped on. The man on the sidewalk stood speechless. The boy turned around in the doorway and said, “Mister, I knew the bus would stop here, because the bus driver is my dad!”

When you’ve got a family relationship with the bus driver, you don’t need a bus stop. If your mother is a US Senator, you won’t need an appointment to slip into her office. If you’ve given your heart to the King of Kings, you’re in a royal family of unspeakable proportions​.

From the Bible to casinos, seven is often considered to be a magical, perfect, and lucky number.

Jesus told us to forgive those who hurt us seventy times seven times. Clearly he meant that to mean infinity.

Genesis speaks of the seven days of creation. Scripture speaks of seven archangels, and the Book of Revelation speaks of the seven seals of Revelation. The Bible is saturated with the number seven.

Roman Catholics have seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Healing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.

There are seven Corporal Works of Mercy: Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead.

And then seven spiritual Works of Mercy: Instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted, and pray for the living and the dead.

We also have the famous seven Wonders of the World, though now there are arguments as to what precisely constitutes that list: Some argue for the original list, the seven Wonders of the Ancient World, others propose the seven Wonders of the Modern World, some speak of the seven Wonders of the Contemporary World, and still others affirm that the real wonders of this world are constructed by nature and they list instead the seven Natural Wonders of this World.

So what’s the true list? What, in fact, constitutes the seven Wonders of the World?

Recently this story appeared on the internet: A teacher asked her students to name the seven Wonders of the World. A number of students, with the help no doubt of electronic gadgets, quickly produced the various lists.

One young girl, however, without any electronic research, produced her own list. The seven Wonders of the World, she submitted, are: seeing, feeling, tasting, smelling, touching, breathing, and loving.

That list, I believe, reminds us all that the greatest wonder is the gift of life from conception until we meet our Lord face to face. Oh, the wonder of it all.

Investment

Tom Watson, Sr., is the man who founded IBM. You can imagine the money, the investments, the experiments, this man, and his multi-billion dollar company have made through the years. Once, years ago, when a million dollars was still a million dollars, Watson had a top junior executive who spent $12 million of the company's money on a venture that failed. The executive put his resignation on Watson's desk saying, "I'm sure that you want my resignation." Watson roared back:, "No I don't want your resignation. I've just spent $12 million educating you. It's about time you get to work."

God won't accept your resignation. Instead, he'll accept your failures as part of the investment He has made in your spiritual growth. But now, he expects you to get to work! So let's do it.

A Mountaintop View

A police car pulled up in front of an older woman's house, and her husband climbed out. The polite policeman explained that "this elderly gentleman" said that he was lost in the park and couldn't find his way home.

"How could it happen?" asked his wife. "You've been going to that park for over 30 years! How could you get lost?"

Leaning close to her ear so that the policeman couldn't hear, he whispered, "I wasn't lost - I was just too tired to walk home."

These bodies become less cooperative as we age. For some, work becomes less fun and fun becomes more work. One older friend commented, "I've reached the age where the warranty has expired on my remaining teeth and internal organs."

But I like the spirit of Charles Marowitz. "Old age is like climbing a mountain," he says. "The higher you get, the more tired and breathless you become. But your view becomes much more extensive."

Atop the mountain, one has a better view of the world. One can see above the differences that divide people. One can better see beyond petty hurts and human fragility. Atop the mountain, one has a longer view of the past and can therefore understand the future with more clarity. Atop the mountain, one looks down on dark clouds of gloom and despair and fear and notices that they are neither as large nor as ominous as those beneath them would believe. It is also clearer that however dark they may appear, they too, are fleeting and will someday pass.

George Bernard Shaw said, "Some are younger at seventy than most at seventeen." I think it is because they have a broader outlook.

It will take a lifetime to climb the mountain, but, for me, the view will be worth the journey.

I'm All Over It

There is a phrase that is used to describe someone who is anxious and eager to handle a situation. You might hear it in the context of a coworker suggesting to another that something needs to be done. The other worker in response says, "I'm all over it!" With that phrase they are saying, "There is no need to worry. I have it covered, I have it under control, I understand the situation, and I am taking care of it."

The world would be a different place if we as believers could respond to the question: "How is your prayer life?" with the answer, "I'm all over it!"

Can you respond in that way?

In Ephesians 6:18 we read the following words, "With every prayer and request, pray at all times in the Spirit, and stay alert in this, with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints" (HCSB). This is one of the Bible's amazing verses on prayer. When you examine it closely you discover some guidelines on how to have an effective and exciting prayer life. The words of the verse remind us of some things to get "all over" as we pray.

4 Better 4 Worse

A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the service, his mother asked him, “Son, do you know how many women a man is allowed to marry?”

“Sixteen,” the boy responded. His mother was shocked. “What do you mean, 16?!”

“It's easy,” the little boy said. “All you have to do is add it up, like the pastor said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer.”

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the United States we always celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday of September. Labor Day is more than an observation of the end of summer or the beginning of the football season. Created by the labor movement in 1882, Labor Day celebrates the "social and economic achievements of American workers"(US DOL). Labor Day received official government recognition by the US Congress in 1894.

The Catholic Church also has a long and distinguished history of supporting and encouraging labor movements throughout the world. Pope Leo XIII wrote a seminal document supporting labor and worker's rights, Rerum Novarum in 1891. There are six themes in Rerum Novarum that form part of today’s Catholic Social Teaching:

1. Cooperation between the classes – Labor and capital must work together (cooperate). Each has rights to be upheld and duties to society & the other classes.

2. Dignity of Work – Work should provide a decent life for workers & their families. Workers should have the right to safe working conditions and reasonable time off.

3. Just wage and worker’s associations - Right to a wage sufficient to provide a decent life for worker & family and right to unionize in order to negotiate wages & good working conditions.

4. Role of the State - State should not interfere in private/local matters, but may need to intervene for the Common Good ((Subsidiarity).

5. Private ownership of property - All have the right to own property and it must be equally available to all. Private property must be used for the Common Good.

6. Defense of the poor - Concern for and meeting the needs of the poor must be a priority not only for people of faith, but for government as well.

While many of these themes are widely assumed today, in 1891 they were revolutionary. Rerum Novarum was the first Catholic social encyclical. If you would like to read the document, go to: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_15051891_rerum-novarum.html.

Last year the US Conference of Catholic Bishops published a Prayer for Labor Day. I am repeating it here for your reflection.

Prayer for Labor Day

As the sun rises to bring in the new day:

We remember those who descend into the earth,
their work begins in darkness,
pulling from the earth, the resources we steward.

We remember those who work inside a building
away from the light and brightness of the day.

We remember those who work outside in the harsh elements of our world,
the bitter cold and sweltering heat of extremes.

We remember those who do not have a job to go to,
who are struggling to meet the needs of their daily living expenses,
for whom the day becomes long and arduous.

As the sun sets to bring in the evening of rest:
We remember those who work in the night.

We remember those who are trying to recover from their labor and toils of the day.

We remember those who participate in unsafe and dangerous work.

We pray for a renewed sense of dignity in their lives and in their work.

God, in your goodness, you have made a home for the worker.

Make a place in our hearts for compassion to the men and women

who labor tirelessly for basic necessities.

Ensure a place for the men and women who are struggling to find work.

Grant us your wisdom to greet and care for those who are unable to work due to illness or circumstances that prevent their participation.

Be with the children who are not able to run and play,

but instead must put in a hard day’s work to help their family afford to eat, to live.

Be with us all, Christ Jesus,
as we go about the busyness of our work.

Hold us accountable not only for our actions,

but most importantly to each of our neighbors.

May we continue to work together to bring about your reign!

We ask this in your holy name, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

 

1 Peter 5:5-7