Pastor's Letter -- November 7, 2021

Beloved parishioners,

Charity and obedience are on display in the First Reading for this weekend’s liturgy. The widow, a poor person by the standards of the day, one who had little means to care for herself and her son, becomes for all ages, an example of selfless generosity. She was charitable to the prophet, perhaps because he was a prophet. But the Lord rewards her generosity of spirit. The jar of flour did not go empty and the jug of oil did not run dry, as the Lord had foretold through the prophet. When we act charitably, we must do so with all our hearts. This woman gives of all she and her son had to live on. She was gathering sticks to make the last meal with the only flour and oil she had left so that she and her son would eat, lie down and die. But God sends his prophet to her. And the way the goodness of God would be manifest is by first eliciting her generosity. She offered what she had, without grumbling, or holding anything back. This is what the Lord asks of us – to give all that we have to him who is able to multiply them and give them back to us. This is exactly what we do when we bring the gifts of bread and wine, the fruits of the earth and the work of human hands, to the Lord. We present to the Almighty God elements that we had first received from his graciousness as gifts, and we ask him to bless and sanctify them, and to give them back to us as food for our souls. This is the mystery of the gift. We give God what he first gave us so that God may give us what we most need – himself.

The fulfillment of the word of the prophet is a demonstration of the Lord’s fidelity to his word. God is faithful to his promises, and gives food to the hungry, as we sing in the Psalms. God never abandons those who give of themselves freely and out of love for his service. St. John of the Cross is reputed for saying that “in the evening of our lives God will judge us on the basis of love.” And this love is not a noun but a verb. It is an action word. We love by doing. And this doing is by giving of our selves, our time, our resources, to the service of God and of our neighbors. God never ignores whatever is done, out of love, for him and neighbor. This is why Jesus commends the generosity of the poor widow who put in all she had to live on. Her two small coins were negligible by human reckoning, but were pleasing to the divine guest in the synagogue. Indeed, our all is all the Lord asks. No one who gives to the Lord is beggared by that very fact. All that we have we have received from him. So, to give back what he first gave us should be a thing of joy and not something we do as though compelled. Your very life is a gift; your time is a gift; your job is a gift; your money is a gift; your children are gifts; your family is a gift… the list goes on. What, among all these gifts, is too much to give to the Lord?

In my experience, and some pastors have corroborated this, many people who give to their parishes, whether of their talents, treasure or time are not generally the most wealthy or less busy parishioners. They are people who have the love of God in their hearts and recognize that all they have is a gift. They are aware that they are only custodians of these gifts. And when the Lord, the rightful owner has need for them, they gladly oblige. Remember how the Lord instructed the disciples to respond when he sent them to bring him a colt for his use prior to his entry into Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover? He said, if anyone asks, “why are you untying that colt?’ you shall say, “The Lord has need of it” (Luke 19:31; Matthew 21:3). God is the owner of the universe, and that includes you. Do you think you are too big, too little, too unworthy, too sinful, or just without value for him to have need for you? Think again. Hear the Lord say to you, “The Lord has need for you.” Come to the Lord as you are. He never turns away anyone who comes. Whatever is broken can be mended; whatever is corrupt can be renewed; whatever is damaged can be fixed. Jesus is waiting. All he says is, just come!

May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you! With blessings from my heart,



More information about the timing of the requirements for a plenary indulgence: It is appropriate, but not necessary, that the sacramental Confession and especially Holy Communion and the prayer for the Pope’s intentions take place on the same day that the indulgenced work is performed; but it is sufficient that these sacred rites and prayers be carried out within several days (about 20) before or after the indulgenced act. Prayer for the Pope’s intentions is left to the choice of the faithful, but an “Our Father” and a “Hail Mary” are suggested. One sacramental Confession suffices for several plenary indulgences, but a separate Holy Communion and a separate prayer for the Holy Father’s intentions are required for each plenary indulgence. ( catholicculture.org)