You bet your life!

Hello friends!

I just got in from Italy and am currently in Cincinnati preparing for Sarah Godfrey's and Paul Pelgen's wedding on Saturday. What a fun and inspiring whrilwind!

I also just read an English synopsis of the the address Pope Francis made at the Papal Audience I got to attend on Wednesday. The more he talks and acts, the more I love our Pope. He speaks faithfully and with charisma a message that resonates in my soul. In fact in his message on Wednesday the Pope's message was directed to bishops, priests and deacons. So, he was really talking to me then. He was reflecting on the Letter to Timothy, where St. Paul is giving instructions to Timothy and other bishops, priests and deacons on how to be faithful in their calling from God. He reminded us that our vocations are a gift from God and to use them and develop them, not for personal gain, but to be "humble and understanding toward others". At the beginning of his address he said that the essential qualities that ministers need are "hospitality, temperence, patience, gentleness, reliability, and goodness of heart". Pope Francis called these the "alphabet, the grammar at the base of every ministry."

As I now look forward to this Sunday's reading from the Gospel of Matthew I can see  a connection. The Gospel parable for the weekend is about the landowner who gave three of his stewards three different gifts. Then the master went off on a long journey. When he returned he found that those to whom he gave larger gifts, they returned to him double of what he had entrusted them. The one to whom he had given the smallest amount of responsibility had taken his "gift" and buried it to protect it. The land owner commends the two who brought him back double of what he had entrusted with them. Yet, he punishes the one who had done the safe thing. While the two who doubled what the master had given them did well in their investing, they had also done a very dangerous thing by investing or gambling the master's wealth. (Btw. There were no federally insured investments or banks in those days, so their risk was even greater.)

Jesus is not being a Spiritual financial adviser. This parable is about how to be a disciple in the reign of God. While the Pope's address on Wednesday was to ministers, Jesus is telling all of us to take the risk and invest our entire gift of life, faith and love into whomever we find ourselves with and in the place in the world that God has placed us. Rather than burying and hiding we are encouraged today to gamble and totally invest the gift that God has given to us. Unselfish and unbridled living, loving and giving is what Jesus is requiring.

Our lives and all that we have in it is a gift from the One, Holy and Generous God. You and I are encouraged not to let fear or selfishness hide our gift. Instead, be a gambler! Give it all away for the sake of God and His beloved ones.

Peace,
Fr. Chuck