Most of us can relate to Jesus statement about the incompatibility of serving God and being a slave to riches. Dishonest wealth: literally, “mammon of iniquity-heinousness.” Mammon is the Greek transliteration of a Hebrew or Aramaic word that is usually explained as meaning “that in which one trusts.” The characterization of this wealth as dishonest expresses a tendency of greed that can lead one to dishonesty. If, therefore, you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? That wealth is faith.
In St. Paul’s letter to Timothy today we hear: “It is my wish, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands, without anger or argument.” Wedding in IN
Discipleship and the Lord’s counseling is a part of what we honor this weekend: those who teach the meaning of the Lord’s teachings. Catechetical Sunday our US Catholic Churches along with many other countries honors teachers and volunteers that help form children and adults in our rich Catholic faith. We are blessed to do so in both English and Spanish. The children in our school are being formed in faith through the gift of our teachers who sacrifice financial rewards because of their commitment to Christ. Our Principal, school faculty and staff serves our school’s mission of witnessing Christ and the love of our children. We owe our full support in their continued dedication to Catholic education and in their ministry of teaching Christ centered values for the children entrusted to them.
We’re greatly blessed to have numerous children from our school and others in our community that are a part of our parish. Fatima Jimenez is our coordinator for Children’s Religious Education (CRE) programs in English and Spanish. There are also numerous volunteers that work hours to prepare and teach afternoons and evenings each week. Many have other full time jobs, with families and children of their own to raise. Yet our dedicated catechists and aids spend time in developing their programs week after week sharing the Word of God and leading our children on a faith journey in Christ. We also owe Geoffrey Say our gratitude and prayers as he helps our children develop an appreciation of music as prayer in choirs for Sunday and school Masses.
Deacon Bruce Miroglio coordinates our adult formation with our Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, Fatima Jimenez also is our Youth Ministry Coordinator along with the assistance of Jay Hipolito and both work together with our Confirmation program grades 7-12. There are numerous other volunteers for Youth Ministry and Confirmation that form our leadership team, for whom we are very grateful.
Please pray daily for these wonderful catechists/volunteers, along with staff and faculty that are a blessing to all of us as they share the light of Christ in their mission of formation of children and adults. While we honor them, we can always use more volunteers to help with hospitality, room mentors, and other ways to help in our programs; please contact any of our coordinators listed in our bulletin. Be a good steward of the gift of faith God has given to us. When we share our faith with others and witness the hope we have in Jesus that brings hope to others ¾especially our sisters and brothers who are suffering. And we raise them in prayer.
In our reading from St. Paul today sounds as if he is describing the Prayers of the Faithful that are a part of all Masses. He reminds us that the prayer of petition is good. However, such prayers are also a responsibility for us. When we pray for people who are suffering in any form, we called to try to help them personally. When we do we become the answer to someone’s prayers.
We know it would be a better, world, if we shared our blessings proportionately, whether large or small, shared our time, talent, and treasure to make a better world. The theme of this year’s catechetical Sunday is “Prayer: The Faith Prayed”
When we pray for peace, for instance, it should remind us to be actively engaged as peacemakers in our families, at school, on the job, and in our community. Every prayer for God to help us should also be an examination of our conscience: what do I do to help God?
In our gospel Jesus reminds us that we are to work to overcome hatred, division, and bigotry that continues to be a dark part of our human-social existence today: “The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones.” He is saying that it takes all of us working together; that stewardship for God’s gifts includes the management and care of all God’s people. We are to remember that God’s gifts given to us are gifts to share.
Let us ask the Lord to help us be better stewards of the gift of our faith as catechists, volunteers, and welcoming children, sharing our stories of faith and what God means to us. WE witness also what God has done for us, and passing on hope by our faith witness. In our daily prayers, let us ask ourselves what am I doing to help bring about God’s love and to be an answer to someone’s prayer this week?