Sunday Homily 9-19-10, 25th Ordinary Time
Readings: Amos 8, 4-7; Psalm 113, Praise the Lord who lifts up the Poor; 1 Timothy 2, 1-8; Luke 16, 1-13
Luke’s Gospel, 3 observations:
1. The Story. The rich man and his steward. The steward is squandering the rich man’s property. The rich man tells the steward that he is going to be fired after he prepares the accounts.
The steward figures he will make friends with the debtors by cutting their debts to the rich man. He cuts bills as much as 50%.
The rich man, instead of berating the steward, praises him for his strategy.
2. What is going on here? Looks like the steward is stealing from the rich man. In fact, he is cutting out his commission, not stealing anything. The Jews reading this parable would know this immediately. The steward made his living by charging a service fee.
3. Any lessons here for us?
a. One of Luke’s favorite messages: Our God is merciful. See the Prodigal Son & Good Samaritan. The rich man praises the steward for being ingenious.
b. We are challenged to be equally ingenious. Use our talents.
Extra point: watch out for taking a hit from the sayings at the end, trustworthiness, dishonesty in little things, 2 masters. There might be a trap here: either/or spirituality.
Sources:
Francis Vanderwall, The Liberating Stories of Jesus, chapter 4;
New Interpreter's Study Bible;
New American Bible, on line;
St. Louis U., The Center for Liturgy, on line
We Need a Mediator to Ransom Us?
Many of you know that this old geezer loves to dance. In fact, it was through dancing that Rosemary & I met. I was looking for the best dancer.
For the past year or more I have not been able to dance because I could not swing my hips or swivel. For the past month or at least since I finished the Hotter ‘N Hell Hundred, I have had it in mind that I would like to return to dancing, probably at some special event.
The event took place last weekend at the wedding we did in
We returned to the hotel and what they call The Great Hall, the big stone lobby. Playing dance music was a 3 piece group and a lady singer. I had thought the wedding reception would be the fitting place to make our dancing debut. But suddenly that Great Hall, the presence of others from the wedding, and the mood of the place made it the moment.
We danced. I could do it. It was exhilarating. Like getting back on a bicycle after a long lay off. To top it off, the lady singing even complimented us by saying, “Good dancing.” I was quite touched.
I talk about this event because I want to tie it into a line in Timothy that says more or less, “There is one mediator who gave himself as ransom for all.”
My Question: Do we need someone to ransom us? Ransom us from what? Did Emma need to be ransomed when we baptized her? What about Chloe or Zoe or Georgie or Sam or Sean?
Many of us have been trained to think that we come into this life stained, imperfect, in fact, sinful, not because of anything we did. But because some distant ancestors, Adam & Eve, sinned and we all inherit it. If the baby was not baptized and the sin removed, it would go to where? Not
hell, not heaven. Limbo.
Folks, what if there is no limbo? The Catholic Church now says it was just a concept, not a reality. Go further. What if we don’t need to be ransomed from anything? What if there really is no original sin? That when we see a little baby and think how good it is, our perception is 100% accurate.
Biblical scholars and students of the history of religion are now suggesting that, just like Limbo, original sin is a concept thought up to explain imperfect behavior. If this is so, could it be that none of us is in need of some kind of ransom?
That lady singer complimenting us on our dancing in The Great Hall was another glimpse into the goodness of people. The wedding was overflowing with the goodness. Parents, the marvelous couple, little kids, and even some old geezers. No need for ransom there.
And if we don’t need to be ransomed, where does that leave us?
Picture 1: Beginning of Mass
Picture 2: Emily with her mom, Julie
Picture 3: Communion preparation