|
From the Pastor...
There seems to be no end to begging for money. Next weekend is the appeal for retired religious women and men who worked in our schools and hospitals over the years. Thinking there would be plenty of young vocations to keep their ministry and take care of them in their twilight years, they didn't worry about money, investments, social security and retirement funds. Now we are asked to help them. Please remember them in a second collection next weekend. Every February is the Archbishop's Annual Appeal. Just when you thought that it was safe to come back to church after our capital campaign, the Archbishop asks us to help him in his ministry as chief Shepherd of the Archdiocese. Monies raised are used for children living in poverty and abuse; education programs for the young and our future priests; the unborn and women struggling with the issue of what to do with an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy; people living with AIDS; the new immigrants to our Archdiocese; inner-city programs; etc. For every dollar we give, the parish receives 25% back to help in our ministry at St. John the Baptist. Our goal is $132,500...no small change.
Why do we make the
sacrifice and support the parish, private-Catholic education for our children, the Archbishop's Appeal, Retired Religious, and all the worthwhile causes throughout the year, every year?
A test was given to a group of children in Istanbul for the purpose of discovering traits of selfishness or generosity. Here is what they found. Children of the poor were less selfish than children of the rich. Children from larger families were more generous than those from smaller families. Is anyone surprised? Among people with little, sharing is a way of life. With those who have a lot, protecting what they have becomes the priority.
Rationalizations are resorted to. The poor are unworthy. If I give, I'll just encourage laziness. I already pay too much in taxes to take care of these bums. And slowly the jaws of the trap close more surely around the addicted.
As Haddon Robinson once put it, "It's a bit like the fly and the flypaper. The fly lands on the flypaper and says, 'My flypaper' when the flypaper says, 'My fly', the fly is dead. It is one thing to have money, another for money to have you. When it does, it will kill you."
As I think about what I have, I am also challenged. Do I focus my eyes on my money, or am I really focused on God? Am I compassionate toward those in need? Am I free, or am I a slave to things? Every year, every month, almost every week there are worthwhile causes to support, people to help. I am blessed, you are blessed, as God puts people in pain and poverty into our lives. Why does God do this? Why are there poor children, poor retired religious, and good ministries to support in our parish?
What would Jesus do? Are the poor, is the church, an opportunity to ask ourselves where, what, is our focus in life? It is money, possessions? Is it the gospel, is it God? The word "sacrifice" means "to make holy." Do I want to be holy? Do you want to be holy? Can we make a sacrifice?
Peace!
-- Fr. Bill Murtaugh
|
|
