In the first two readings this weekend we are reminded that we walk by faith and not by sight…Abraham and Sarah journeyed an unknown path to an unknown land following the invitation and promise of God to become the parents of a new people…who would become as countless as the sands on the seashore. In the Gospel, once again Jesus encourages and admonishes the disciples to focus on the Reign of God and not to seek security in the things of this world… and to be ready when the “Master” returns because much will be demanded from the one to whom much has been given.
This weekend’s readings suggest our faith is based on a God who has so generously blessed us…and the future to which we are called is beyond our wildest dreams! But we live, now, in a world that is filled with fear and insecurity where millions of people are made refugees, a world where the majority of all human beings go to bed hungry each night. We live in a world rife with corruption and oppression of the poor…and yet these are the very people who walk in faith…who continue to journey toward that “promised land” believing that God’s Word is more powerful than the cruel hand of any dictator or the sufferings caused by being poor and without power in a world that seems not to care.
How will they be led to “the promised land”…who will feed them in their hunger? The Gospel answers these questions…we are the stewards of “the household” left in charge “to distribute the food allowance at the proper time.” We are the ones called to shelter the homeless, to welcome the stranger and to offer freedom to the oppressed! We are called “to be” the Reign of God! It is our responsibility to reach out to all those in need and all who are suffering and lend a hand…to pull them up out of their poverty and suffering…to do as Jesus did! And this will require, for most of us, that we shift our focus in life from “securing the things of this world” to “seeking the Reign of God first”.
Imagine for a moment what the world would look like if we all truly sought the Reign of God first…imagine…I think we wouldn’t be dealing with mass shootings and all the gun violence nor would we have the humanitarian crisis that we do on our southern border! We wouldn’t be living in a country torn apart by fearmongering, racism, bigotry and misogyny. If we all made building up the Reign of God a priority our world would look very different! In what ways do I seek the Reign of God first in my life? What might I have to change in my life to make “building up the Reign of God” a greater priority? What are the greatest social sins that I see today that hold back “the Reign of God from bursting forth…and what can I do to change that social sin?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
This weekend’s readings suggest our faith is based on a God who has so generously blessed us…and the future to which we are called is beyond our wildest dreams! But we live, now, in a world that is filled with fear and insecurity where millions of people are made refugees, a world where the majority of all human beings go to bed hungry each night. We live in a world rife with corruption and oppression of the poor…and yet these are the very people who walk in faith…who continue to journey toward that “promised land” believing that God’s Word is more powerful than the cruel hand of any dictator or the sufferings caused by being poor and without power in a world that seems not to care.
How will they be led to “the promised land”…who will feed them in their hunger? The Gospel answers these questions…we are the stewards of “the household” left in charge “to distribute the food allowance at the proper time.” We are the ones called to shelter the homeless, to welcome the stranger and to offer freedom to the oppressed! We are called “to be” the Reign of God! It is our responsibility to reach out to all those in need and all who are suffering and lend a hand…to pull them up out of their poverty and suffering…to do as Jesus did! And this will require, for most of us, that we shift our focus in life from “securing the things of this world” to “seeking the Reign of God first”.
Imagine for a moment what the world would look like if we all truly sought the Reign of God first…imagine…I think we wouldn’t be dealing with mass shootings and all the gun violence nor would we have the humanitarian crisis that we do on our southern border! We wouldn’t be living in a country torn apart by fearmongering, racism, bigotry and misogyny. If we all made building up the Reign of God a priority our world would look very different! In what ways do I seek the Reign of God first in my life? What might I have to change in my life to make “building up the Reign of God” a greater priority? What are the greatest social sins that I see today that hold back “the Reign of God from bursting forth…and what can I do to change that social sin?
Blessings,
Fr Tim
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