Roman Missal Presentation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9GIIQ8zfD4

The Generosity of God

Often times when people have been in a difficult time in their life they have asked for my prayers.  Of course it is always my privilege to pray for someone, especially in difficult times.  On occasion though I have asked them to pray for someone else who may be going through something similar or worse than they.  Inevitably they have returned saying that praying for another has lightened their burden.

I am certain there are numerous people who have used this phrase but I remember having it impact my life at a very important time when I heard, “GOD WILL NOT BE OUTDONE IN GENEROSITY.”  I have found this to be true in my own life so I trust in it and believe in it and so act accordingly in giving of my time, talent and treasure.

Many people are hurting these days.  Many are struggling to make ends meet.  Unemployment is extremely high.  We feel the effects each day as the requests pour in to help people meet their monthly, weekly and daily bills. I know some will think I’m crazy when in difficult times I would recommend we give more, but not sharing our daily bread is giving into despair...and what is needed is faith, trust in a God who will not abandon us nor be outdone in His generosity!  Therefore, the more we do for others, the more we can expect to receive.

I know for a fact that there are those reading this that are extremely skeptical.  I don’t blame you.  I have been there myself.  But looking at today’s gospel Jesus wants us to trust in how much He wants to do for us.  Perhaps you’re not able to believe this truth.  Perhaps your fear is too overwhelming.  OK.  Then this challenge is for you.  TRY IT!  Live as if you are want to out-do God’s generosity.  Seeing is believing.  Give that extra $5 or $10 or $20.  Watch what happens.  Trust!  Your life will never be the same!  Your life will never be better!

9/11

I am proud to be a native of Colorado.  Born in Denver and a citizen of the United States of America, I am grateful for the freedom that I have to practice my faith and seek to live  the values of the gospel.  It is unfortunate that we have yet to learn that these values given to us by Jesus Christ enable us to live lives of great peace and joy.  

How profound is the gospel message today.  For the last decade the end of the Summer has meant recalling the memory of 9/11 and the overwhelming shock, pain, mistrust and fear that has aggressively changed our lives and which has ended the world as we knew it.

I remember back on September 11, 2001, watching the television and hearing that a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center in New York.  I knew at that very moment this was not an accident.  Our pilots know better.  As I watched in horror, I knew this was the end of things as I knew them.  When the second plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center, my suspicions were confirmed.

Our lives have been changed because many innocent lives were lost, our trust has diminished and our fear increased.  Anger, hatred, fear, judgement are negative hurtful things that can grow to such an enormous extent that great harm can be done when they are out of control.

Today’s gospel reminds us of the values we hold as a people of faith.  They may not be in line with the worlds values.  But remembering this great tragedy should only convict us more in the values of our faith, recalling that mercy, forgiveness, compassion are the very foundation by which we should live and how we treat others.  Jesus suffered and died on the cross, giving His entire self, for the forgiveness of our sins.  That is mercy and forgiveness at its ultimate best.

Shortly after 9/11 The Fantastiks closed in New York.  One of the longest running plays,  it was famous for the song, “Try To Remember,” with its first line stating, “Try to remember that kind of September when life was slow and oh so mellow.”  

Let this be a time for us to remember back to those days of innocence and find our way to the heart of Jesus so that fear, anger, judgement and misguided aggressive behavior may not rule our hearts.  Rather let our hearts we ruled by compassion and mercy.  May we never hold a grudge so long as to cause the weight of destruction in our world.  Let us not stand in judgement of another...at least until we can “walk on water.”