October 15, 2017- Book Club: Room 2, 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
October 22, 2017– Praying with Teresa of Avila
October 15, 2017- Book Club: Room 2, 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
October 22, 2017– Praying with Teresa of Avila
From an early age, we tend to distort the concept of “fairness”: “I am good. I deserve good things. I am not receiving good things. Something must be wrong. Who’s going to fix it?” We also know the age-old expression: “Who ever said life was fair?” Jesus knew this expression when he offered his parable in today’s Gospel.
Christian stewards acknowledge, with humility, that they receive good things from the Lord in abundance; even if these gifts are not the ones they think they need when they need them.
Consider which servants you identify with most in the Gospel reading, the ones who demand “fairness”, or that final servant who, seemingly, deserves the least.
Sunday’s Gospel reading continues Jesus’ instructions on being good stewards of others; the direction that if we love Jesus Christ, we must forgive an individual 77 times. The reading compels us to consider one of the most difficult practices of Christian discipleship. Forgiveness is the way of Jesus, the way of the cross. Vengeance, bitterness and hatred seem so much easier and certainly more desirable. Forgiveness is a hard road to travel, but it is the only road that leads to life in Christ. Consider this week who you need to forgive.
In today’s second reading, St. Paul enjoins us to be indebted to no one. Debt creates the kind of pressure that impedes our relationship with Jesus Christ. But there is one debt we will always owe and never be able to pay off fully: the debt of showing love to others. We will never reach the place where we can say, “Now I love others as much as I ought, and that’s enough.” No matter how much we’ve grown in faith we will always be required to grow in love. Good stewards realize that God does not call them just to love those who are easy to love, but to love the unloved and the hard-to-love people in this world as well. This week, remind yourself, “I am put here as an ambassador of God’s love.”
Sunday, September 3, 2017 is your last opportunity this year to enjoy St. Malachi Gelato Sundays at Rosso Gelato, 19056 Old Detroit Rd., Rocky River from 5:00 PM-9:00PM; sign in on the “St. Malachi” form when you pay & St. Malachi receives a portion of your purchase. Tell your family & friends or, better yet, bring them with you! Enjoy gelato and know that part of your purchase helps St. Malachi!
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” At the nd of the reading Jesus suggests there is great hope in the cross. Today’s followers of Christ recognize they are stewards of his entire legacy, including his cross and that through mutual sacrifices, God’s glory is revealed. They don’t live their lives in Christ only when it is convenient for them. They make a decision to take up their cross and carry it, no matter what the cost is to themselves.
Reflect this week on the cross you bear in order to reveal God’s glory. How do you embrace that cross? How, at times, do you shirk that cross when it is not convenient?
Saint Paul reminds us today that the ultimate origin of everything is God. Since everything comes from God, we are God’s own. We can never put God in our debt. There is absolutely no negotiating with God. Every breath is a gift. Every good deed we perform is grace. Good stewards realize they are created and called to make the beauty, greatness, compassion and justice of God & his gifts known throughout the world.
The stewardship question for us is whether we are willing to embrace this call, acknowledge our dependence on God and give our lives over to him completely for this purpose.
AUG. 27 – PRAYING WITH TERESA OF AVILA;
PSR OPENING & GATHERING
In today’s first reading, the Lord speaks through the prophet Isaiah during a time of political dissolution and moral decline. The prophet had warned of God’s judgment against people for the feelings of self-importance they found in their possessions, and condemned them for various forms of economic injustice such as exploiting the poor and immigrants. Good stewards know that Isaiah’s message is as compelling today as it was in the time of the kingdom of Judah: Do the right thing. Offer justice and compassion toward others. Be honest in all your dealings. And remember to observe the day of the Lord.
The St. Malachi Parish Mission: We are a Eucharistic People, United in Prayer, Welcoming to All and Serving the Poor.
Celebrating Over 150 Years of Faithful Service in the Old Angle!