October 23, 2005
READING 2:
1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10
GOSPEL: Matthew 22:34-40
 S.D. Gordon has a beautiful story about the ascension of Jesus into heaven. When the grand welcome ceremony was over, the Archangel Gabriel approached Jesus to clarify his doubts. He asked, “I know that very few in Palestine are aware of the great work of human salvation you have accomplished through your life, suffering, death and resurrection. But the whole world should know and appreciate it and become your disciples, acknowledging you as their Lord and Savior. What is your plan of action?” Jesus said: “I have told all my disciples to tell other people about me and preach the message through their lives. That’s all.” “Suppose they don’t do that,” Gabriel said, “then what will be your alternative plan?” Jesus said: “I have no alternative plan; I am counting on them.” On this Mission Sunday the Church reminds us that Jesus is counting on each one of us to make him known, loved and accepted by others around us. One billion Catholics all over the world observe today as “World Mission Sunday.” Our Church is “missionary” in its very nature because her founder, Jesus Christ, was the first missionary. God the Father sent God the Son into the world with a message. This message is called the Gospel or the “good news,” as stated in John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die, but have eternal life.” Thus the mission of the Church is essentially the announcement of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness revealed to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The mission of Jesus Christ is now our mission as Queen of Peace Catholic Community and it is the mission of every one of us individually as well. The way we love God with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind, is to make God known through our lives, our words, our actions, our prayers. This week, the faith community at Queen of Peace is making our commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ our own. The disciples brought the good news to others. The most common exclamation was, “See how these Christians love one another.” It wasn’t just their words but their whole lives preached the Good News of their faith. We must be doing some of that here at Queen of Peace too. We keep growing. We have fifty adults studying to become fully Catholic; we have sixty-two teenagers studying to be Confirmed. This last year, we began two woman’s Bible study groups that have grown amazingly popular. Our “pray and play” program for our youngsters has taken off like a rocket! We are supporting a religious education Sunday school program for 500 kids. We have 160 kids in St. Patrick School and 180 in Queen of Peace Academy. We expanded our educational buildings from 10,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet. That includes our new Perry Family Center gym. We offer Mass at two nursing home, Eucharistic ministers take the Body of Christ to many temporarily or permanently homebound people. I could go on and on, but just take a look at the ministry booklet and you will see how active this faith community is. This community is spirited by the people, that is, every one of us taking ownership. I come to you with two hats today. Both hats are turned upside down and held out to you. I come, in a sense, as a beggar. I would rather come as a giver; but somebody has to do this on behalf of the whole community. My one hat is the one I wear when I sign the checks. Our monthly mortgage payments are nearly $50,000; our electric bills are about $10,000 per month. Every single activity, ministry or moment on this campus costs the community money. Every host, every sip of wine cost money before Communion becomes the life force of Jesus Christ which we receive. The energetic, dynamic, delightful spirit we share when we gather in this beautiful church doesn’t just happen. Everything happens with planning, work, attention to details and material to work with. If it could happen without all this, every church you ever visit would be like Queen of Peace. I think Catholics are mostly fun, bright and community oriented everywhere. But here, we share something special. Nearly every priest who visits us tells me of the amazing spirit of Masses at Queen of Peace. I think you will agree. Like I said, it doesn’t just happen and it doesn’t come free. This is the most challenging year we have ever had financially. Our parish has grown, our ministries have grown and our educational facility has grown and the costs associated with all of the above have gone up, up, up; but our offertory has not grown this year. I have been told that people come and look at the size of the community, the beauty of the church, the homes in the neighborhood and think, “this parish is rich, they don’t need my money.” My friends, in the first place, it is not “they” it is “we” because we are all disciples of Jesus Christ entrusted with His mission and this is our parish. In the second, we are a rich parish, most of us do fairly well by comparison to national standards, especially for the South; but we are not a rich church. I wake up in the middle of the night praying that the offerings this week will be enough and that the months of Fall will put us in the black again. Anyhow, if the Mission of Jesus Christ is going to continue to impact lives at Queen of Peace every contribution is essential. This church was not built by huge donations. There were only two six figured donations and the biggest was $200,000. This church was built and continues to be supported by average folks doing their part. I want to thank our solid supporters; you have done amazing things for the Lord and we have all been blessed by your generosity. We need more people to join as financial supporters of the mission here. When we do our part, God does God’s part. I also wear that hat of a spiritual leader. When I wear this hat, I think everyone ought to know how trustworthy God truly is. Everyone ought to live confident lives. Everyone needs to give to feel the great joy in being part of something great for God. I could talk about this all the time. Suffice for now to say that God expects to be first in our lives and when we place God first, our lives are spectacular! This week as I looked for ways to convey the message to you I received several suggestions. One was that I give you a visual analogy. So, see this orange. Imagine that it is your money. Break this piece off for the mortgage; this piece for the cars payments; this for groceries; this for the kids lessons; this for entertainment; this for cable, this for high speed internet; this for toys, this for candy; this for pocket money and all that’s left for the Lord. Gee, I guess that’s the pulp. All that’s left for the Lord is pulp. Let’s see, from God we expect everything from breath to parking spaces. But all we give God is the pulp, the left--overs. Do you think God is going to be happy with that? Don’t get me wrong, God doesn’t need the money we offer the church, but God knows the church does, and God knows exactly what we are doing. Jesus said the First Commandment is Love God with your whole heart and where your money is that’s where your heart is…I think God loves us and forgives us, but I can’t imagine God likes being left with the pulp. We’re asking you to dance for the Lord. We’re asking you to put on your Christian name and commit to giving to God’s mission as you experience it at Queen of Peace. If you are having a bad time of it, we certainly don’t want you to take the food off the table and we pray better fortune upon you. For the rest: this year, please make a choice when you are given the chance. Don’t sit this one out. If you have never made a commitment before, have some confidence in yourself and just declare an amount you can live with and be steady supporters of your community. If you have made the commitment before, please see if you can reach a little bit higher for your community. If you know the percentages, try bumping up one or two percentage points. The goal is to give as the Bible tells us to give, the ten percent. If you are there I know you are experiencing blessings. If you are not there, I know you are also experiencing blessings. Somehow, though, there is a difference within the human spirit that makes the ten percent tithe a worthy goal. This is your chance to dance for the Lord. Don’t sit this one out. Your community needs your steady support; we’re living on the edge here; struggling to be the parish that you want. Please don’t let yourself be turned away from your best instinct. This is the moment; you are given the choice to sit it out or dance. You are given the choice to let your lifestyle testify to the good news of God’s love. I come to you as your beggar. You can dance or not dance, but I am praying, I am hoping, I am believing that you will dance! Fr. Jeff McGowan |