Tag Archives: Faith

September 29, 2013

27th Sunday of the Year – A Good Servant

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Adoration

Study:  How can I share the time, talents, and treasure that God has given me?

Pray:  Where do I hear the Lord’s voice calling me today?

Serve:  Who has the Lord put in my life?  Who can I help today?

27th Sunday Readings

What does it mean to be a good servant?  The Gospel parable offers a simple illustration for our reflection today.  Each of us has work to do; our vocation (whatever it is) leads us to particular tasks and duties.  Let’s break it down:

* What does it mean to be a good person?
* How am I called to live in the world?
* How does my faith direct me to live?
* Who are the people I care for in my life?
* What tasks are set before me to do?

The fact is, we all have a part to play in this life.  We all have people to serve, work to do, and examples to offer to those around us.  These tasks may vary with our age, gender, education, and resources – but they are all part of God’s call to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

The point of the parable is that we should not think that the work we do has special merit.  Just because the Lord blesses us with unique resources or gifts does not entitle us to privilege.  We are called to do our work, mindful that it is our part in God’s plan.

This means that we do our work with care, attention, and purpose.  We do this not because we seek special treatment, but because the Lord invites us to share our talents for the greater good of all.  It is not enough to go through the motions; we offer the best of our lives that we might make a difference!

As servants of Jesus Christ we are commanded to follow the Lord throughout this life until we are called home.  And when we stand before the Lord we will discover both what we did with our lives and what we failed to do.  In all this we live that we might be good servants – willing to carry out the task at hand.

We turn to our faith in our moments of need.  We pray that God will assist us in our times of trial, that we will offer the best we have in our service.  We look to the Lord for guidance and strength.  We trust that the Christ will never leave us.

It is this faith that sustains us when doubt and fear surface in our hearts.  It is this faith that supports us when we feel alone.  And it is this faith that becomes the bedrock for our service – that we might be good servants, following the Master’s call.

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September 25, 2013

26th Sunday of the Year – Road Signs

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Road Signs

Study:  In your personal life, what have been some of the best “signs” that have pointed you in the right direction?  Is it a person, an experience, or perhaps an activity?

Pray:  Ask the Lord for the spiritual sight to recognize God’s signs within our daily lives.

Serve:  How might you be a source of direction and guidance for another?  How might your life point the way for another to follow?

26th Sunday Readings

I often am traveling in unfamiliar places.  Unsure of my directions, I am extra careful when it comes to reading the road signs; all it takes is one wrong turn to cause a delay or even greater confusion.

Road signs are important for travel.  They guide us, remind us of our distance and time, reassure us about our direction, and help us reach our destination safely.  These signs make certain that the trip will result in our timely and secure arrival.

We use signs in other parts of our lives as well.  We look for cues from one another in our relationships to show us if we are on good terms with others.  We have progress reports to help us assess how our work is going.  And we often ask for evaluations after programs to determine if the presentation was helpful.  All of these examples show us that signs aid us in living our lives in a healthy and happy fashion.

In the Gospel we hear the familiar story of the rich man and Lazarus.  It is a classic tale about the reversal of fortunes between this world and the next.  Yet the twist in this parable happens when the rich man, from the midst of his suffering, wants to go back and warn his brothers about their impending fate.  Abraham reminds him, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.”

This sobering statement reminds us that our choices result in consequences that hold us accountable.  Our words and actions make a difference, for good or evil, and the great power of our choices affects ourselves and others in many ways.

Yet Abraham’s reply can also fill us with hope.  We possess the Scriptures; we know the commandments God offers us.  With these signs we can journey through life aware of our opportunities and responsibilities.  God has given us everything we need to face our joys and sorrows in this world, and with these “road signs” we trust that we will be united with God completely in the eternal world to come.

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