Fr. Rick Spicer

Whenever I took a class in school, the end of the course usually meant a final exam. Some finals left me uneasy, especially if the subject had been difficult, like physics or philosophy, so while studying, I would wonder, “What sort of questions will the professor ask? Do I understand everything that matters? Can I bluff my way if need be?” Alas, studying didn’t always insure a passing grade, for sometimes I really didn’t grasp what the professor considered relevant.

This weekend, the Church celebrates the end of another year, the liturgical year, with the feast of Christ the King. This somber gospel passage  suggests that every person who has ever lived will be given this final exam  to determine their eternal fate.

Think back over the past twelve months. We have been on a pilgrimage with Jesus, listening to his many lessons on just what the kingdom of  heaven is all about. What did you learn? Have you learned what really  matters?

Ideally, we have learned what Christ expects of us as his followers. With  this parable, he is giving us a sneak preview of what will be on the final  exam of life. The Church calls them the corporal works of mercy; clothing  the naked, welcoming the stranger, visiting the imprisoned, giving drink to the thirsty, feeding the hungry, and caring for the sick, The golden thread woven through all of this is love.

One might think that good works then is all that we need to pass this final exam for our salvation, but that suggests we can “earn” our way into  heaven and we can’t. After all, heaven is God’s gift to us; a gift that we  can freely accept or reject. Faith, grace and the sacraments are also essential to our salvation, but our response to that invitation is made evident by our deeds or lack of deeds.

The Christian writer, Frederick Buechner, put it this way. “Many an atheist is a believer without knowing it. Just as many a believer is an atheist without knowing it. You can sincerely believe there is no God and live as though  there is one. You can sincerely believe there is a God and live as though there is not.” So, are we living the faith we profess?

In today’s gospel, Jesus calls us to see Christ in others, to serve others because in doing so, we serve Christ, to respect and honor others because  they possess the very life and dignity of Christ. In doing for others what we would do for Christ, we can transform our homes, and communities, our churches and workplaces into the kingdom of God where the peace and justice of Christ will truly reign.

Even the saints were sometimes slow in learning this lesson. By her own admission, it was only after she had been a nun for twenty years that St. Teresa of Avila experienced a true conversion to Jesus. Thereafter, she spent her energy in the service of others, fully aware that, as this parable implies, God is counting on us. In one of her prayers, she wrote, “Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he is to look out; Christ’s compassion to the world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours the hands with which he is to bless now.”

St. Teresa understood that if the mission of Jesus Christ is to be  accomplished between now and his Second Coming, then it must be done with your hands and mine, with your eyes and mine, with your feet and mine. At the heart of this gospel challenge is the fact that each of us is personally responsible and will be held accountable when, at life’s final audit, we meet our saving Lord and brother, face to face.

In the cathedral in Lubeck, Germany, there is an engraving that reads, “Thus speaks Christ our Lord to us, you call me master and obey me not; you call me light and see me not; you call me the way and walk me not; you call me the life and live me not; you call me wise and follow me not;  you call me fair and love me not; you call me rich and ask me not; you call me eternal and see me not. If I condemn thee, blame me not.” That is the wakeup call I hear in this gospel. The outcome of our judgment is ultimately in our hands.

Those who did not feed him, give him water, did not welcome him, did not clothe him, and did not care for him will be sent off to eternal punishment. The grade we get at our judgment does not depend on how religious we are, or how well we know our faith, but on how well we live our faith. That was the constant lesson Jesus pointed out to his listeners then and that is his lesson for us still. With the image of sheep and goats, he cautions that those who are strong on doctrine but short on ethics will be in for a surprise when they discover belatedly that they didn’t learn everything that was really relevant in life.

Speaking of surprises, CS Lewis had this to say. “When you get to heaven, there will be three surprises. First, we will be surprised by the people that  we find there, many of whom we surely had not expected to see. The  second surprise is that we will be surprised by the people who are absent—the ones we expected to see but who are not there. The third surprise, of course, will be that we’re there.”

Should we be surprised if we are there? Not if we do our homework, for together, love, faith, and good works provide us with the lessons we need for a passing grade on the most important final exam we will ever take.

The whole point of this lengthy gospel parable is that Jesus expects us to do something for the salvation of the world. What we do is determined by our own talents, not only our God-given abilities, as the word suggests, but also our treasures. Historically, talents were units of money in biblical times. Eventually, the word came to mean those abilities within us that  enable us to earn money, such as those that enable the artist to create art that sells.

This gospel passage is a wake up call. Are we using our talents responsibly? Not just those skills and natural abilities we have, but also our financial resources. God gives us both. We are all blessed to some degree, some more than others, as were the servants in today’s parable.

Some of you have greater wealth than others in our midst who can barely make ends meet. Still, there is not a single person here who is utterly destitute.

How we use our talents doesn’t depend on the balance in our checking account, but on how readily we trust that God will be there to take care of us in our need. So long as there is an element of fear, we remain reluctant, as was the third servant, to use what we have responsibly.

How responsible have we been when it comes to building up the kingdom of God? I suspect a fair number of “would be” disciples in our midst take the same minimalist approach as the reluctant servant did when it comes to handling their talents. For whatever reason, they are unwilling to invest
what they have to build up the kingdom of God. Some may argue that the parish doesn’t need “my hard earned money.”

Or “I have nothing worthwhile to contribute,” or “What I can afford to give of my treasure and talent wouldn’t make any difference anyway.”

I beg to differ. What you give would make a big difference not only to the parish but also to you.

I can see why some give little or nothing to the parish. I read recently that 49% of American families don’t pay their bills on time, 65% don’t do a good job of staying out of debt, 65% don’t balance their checkbooks, 82% don’t adequately save for their future needs, and that poor financial management is a significant cause for divorces.

It seems that many people struggle with stewardship, not only when it comes to supporting their parish, but also when it comes to their personal finances as well.

Good stewardship is crucial to our spiritual and emotional well being. All of us are called to a spirit of generosity with our gifts of treasure and talent.

One who doesn’t share is known as a miser, and as Charles Dickens made clear in his classic, The Christmas Carol, a miser is not a happy person. Conversely, we all know people who share generously of their resources. They are usually happy and at peace with themselves. Happiness comes from sharing, from being generous, and from using our finances for the sake of something greater than one’s self, for example, building up the kingdom of God.

We often give to a need, and we do so generously, but something few of us realize is our need to give. I speak on stewardship, not for the sake of this parish, but primarily for the sake of its parishioners. Winston Churchill once said, “We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”

Instead of approaching life with a “me-first” mentality, Jesus often urges us to live life with an attitude of gratitude. And we do that best by living a life of stewardship. The first step would be making a pledge. Think of it as a planned gift to be given each week. Like the other essentials in your family budget, such as food, mortgage payments, and utilities, this gift shouldn’t be seen as an after thought, but as a priority.

Secondly, give proportionately, that is, in light of how you have been blessed. Instead of giving the same amount of money as you did last year, give the same percentage of your income. Consider using the biblical notion of tithing.

Many people give five percent to the parish and five percent to other charities, such as the Annual Catholic Appeal. Make your gift sacrificial. It then becomes a gift that you are proud to give as a present to the Lord in gratitude for all that you have received. If five percent of your income is too much of a sacrifice to make now, then think about giving 2% or 4% to the parish.

The servant who buried his master’s money in the ground condemned himself with his own words, for he knew that he would be held accountable. “I knew that you were a demanding person.” He was punished, not because of how he managed the funds but because he did not take his responsibilities seriously enough.

Hopefully we are taking our responsibilities seriously. By virtue of our baptism we are expected to build up the kingdom of God by using our  talents and treasures. Live a life of stewardship and someday you will hear those beautiful words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Malachi raises a question that catches my attention. “Have we not all the one father?” He then goes on to ask, “Has not the one God created us? Why then do we break faith with one another, violating the covenant of our fathers?”

When you stop and think about it, the entire Bible is a response to Malachi’s thought-provoking questions. In the New Testament, Jesus invites us to participate in his own eternal relationship with God, the Father.

Jesus tells us to call no one on earth “father” because we have only one father in heaven. For this reason, I have been confronted by some fundamentalists with the question why Catholics call their priests by that title but that isn’t the point Jesus is making here. He wasn’t speaking against the practice of using titles of respect and affection. Rather, he wants us to honor our fathers by seeing in them a reflection of divine fatherhood.

What image comes to mind when you think of God the Father? For many people, I suspect their perception is heavily influenced, for better or worse, by their own father. While in the seminary, I read the book, The Road Less Traveled, by Scott Peck. I will never forget what he said about parenting. The most awesome undertaking anyone could do, yet few parents ever go to school to learn how to be a parent. Instead, for better or worse they most likely learned about parenting from their own parents. That insight prompted me to reflect long and hard on how my father was parented by his parents.

While my father may not have been as expressive of his love as I may have wanted him to be, I came to realize based on what I could learn about his childhood that he parented and loved me the best he could. I recall those times when ill with asthma how he would get up in the middle of the night to administer my medicine, caring for me however he could.

God wants to do the same for all of us, carrying us in the palm of his hands, especially when we may be feeling unloved. Simply put, God, like most fathers, desires to provide us with our legitimate needs. He gives us everything. Without God, we would have nothing. In return, how grateful are we for all that God has given us?

Perhaps about as much as this one family whose story you may have heard before. Coming out of Mass one Sunday, the husband said to his wife, “That wasn’t much of a sermon that Father gave.” The wife replied, “Yeah, I agree, and the choir sang off key.” Meanwhile, their young son was listening to their conversation. Finally, he spoke up. “It seemed all right to me, considering that it only cost us a dollar!” What that family gave doesn’t show much gratitude yet their example provides all of us with food for thought. Just how grateful are we for what we have and how do we express that gratitude? Although it has never really been the Catholic practice, the biblical tradition has long been to set aside the first portion of what we have for God. If your approach to supporting the parish was like mine was years ago, I imagine it is more of an after thought, like “What loose change do I have to spare?”

Sometimes, people will say, “I will give God more time when I get older; now I am too busy.” Or they will say, “When I get on a better financial footing, then I will start tithing, giving that ten percent to God.”

The notion of tithing can seem a tad bit scary. What will happen to me or what will happen to my family if I give up that much for God? I cannot answer that question, but I can give you an example which might surprise you of someone who made that choice early in life: John D. Rockefeller. All his life he made a point of tithing. He came from a modest family. His first pay check was $1.50. He took the money home to his mother who told him that she would be happy if he gave a tenth of it to the Lord. He did and from that day onward, Rockefeller tithed every dollar he earned. He said, “If I had not tithed the first dollar I made, I would not have tithed the first million.” The important thing about stewardship is to get started, to take that leap of faith. Many have discovered that once they have given back that first portion, be it ten percent or five percent, it seemed like the natural thing to do. I am not saying that tithing will make you a millionaire. No, what I am asking is that you join me in recognizing the great blessings that you and I have received from our heavenly Father. Think about it, the gifts of energy, talents, abilities, opportunities, and of time itself. We really do owe much to God, when you stop to think about it. In the weeks ahead, as we reflect on the role of stewardship in our lives, I urge you to consider how you can return some of your talents, time and treasure to God.

At a glance, the lesson in the gospel was on hypocrisy. Jesus challenged the Pharisees for not living up to what they professed. Could he say the same of us? If we are motivated solely by our love and gratitude to God, then all is well. But if our hearts are far from God and self-glorification is our motive, we are likely to be humbled as the Pharisees were. We reaffirm our covenant with God best by taking on an attitude of gratitude, never forgetting that God owns it all and we are called to share.

30th Sunday of the Year October 23, 2005 In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul made a statement that catches my attention; “You became a model for all the believers of Macedonia and Achaia.” Hmm, could Paul address such a letter to us? Have we become a model for all the believers of South Whidbey? He went on to observe that the Thessalonians had turned from idols to serve the living God in whom they have grounded their new faith. Have we done the same thing?

Years ago, I read about a man who went to an exhibit on idols, expecting to see idols from India, Africa and the South Seas. Instead he found several large panels. One was covered with tobacco and numerous cigarette labels; the second was covered with labels from assorted liquor bottles; the third was covered with pennants from different football teams, and the last one was covered with dollar bills. He realized that idols were everywhere, not just in distant lands. Many people value idols of power, money, alcohol, drugs, tobacco, that piece of pigskin known also as a football, and/or that appliance given various names such as the boob tube which can command our undivided attention for several hours each evening. Do any of these idols stop us from serving the one true God?

Paul tells the Thessalonians that the Word of the Lord has echoed forth from them resoundingly, not only in Macedonia and Achaia; but also throughout every region where their faith in God is celebrated.

The Thessalonians were like megaphones. By their lifestyles, people elsewhere could see how these onetime pagans accepted and lived the word of God. The success of their approach doesn’t surprise me. Aren’t we often sold on a product because someone has convinced us to try it out?

Within a year after it was first introduced into this country 25 years ago, sales for the Pentel felt-tip pen were phenomenal. All this happened without any advertising except by “word of mouth.” People in all kinds of offices across the country advertised the pen by introducing it to others.

Most anyone in business will tell you that to sell any product well, you have to believe in what you are selling. The Thessalonians believed in what they were selling. Could Paul commend us for convincingly selling the Word of God? Maybe you don’t see yourself as a salesperson, much less an evangelist, but most likely you do sell to others what you personally believe in including your favorite brand names, TV shows, and political candidates. How then can we best sell God to others? Today’s Gospel gives us that answer.

When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus was quick to tell his listeners, “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Knowing that they would need some pointers on how to fulfill this commandment, he added another for good measure. “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” That added line makes sense for love of neighbor tests the reality of our love for God. Our love for God cannot be something only thought or even only said, such as in prayer. It must be carried out by loving actions.

Being human, none of us are perfect. We all have shortcomings especially when it comes to love. More than once I have been confronted on my own shortcomings as a person of love. What matters is that we never give up trying to be the lovers that God is calling us to be.

In his renowned book, The Road Less Traveled, the late Scott Peck defines love as “the will to extend one’s self for the purpose of nurturing one’s own or another person’s spiritual growth.” Love’s primary task, he notes, is attention giving. We cannot claim to love someone when we fail to pay attention to that person.

Often people will complain to me that they cannot love a certain person. What they come to realize is that they don’t like the person. Liking and loving are not the same thing. Dr. Peck observes, “Liking or affection is primarily a feeling; love is primarily a matter of decision and action.”

How we pay attention to others, to God, and even to ourselves is what makes us unique. In case you are at a loss for ideas on how to love, here are a few tips that you may find useful written by an anonymous author.

“Mend a quarrel. Search out a forgotten friend. Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust. Write a love letter. Share some treasure. Give a soft answer. Encourage youth. Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.

“Keep a promise. Find the time. Forego a grudge. Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you were wrong. Try to understand. Flout envy. Examine your demands on others. Think first of someone else. Appreciate, be kind, be gentle, laugh a little more.

“Deserve confidence. Take up arms against malice. Decry complacency. Express your gratitude. Worship your God. Gladden the heart of a child. Take pleasure in beauty and wonder of the earth. Speak your love. Speak it again. Speak it still again. Speak it still once again.”

To understand today’s gospel, it will help to consider the context. We just heard a dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees on the question of paying the census tax. Every adult in the Roman Empire under the age of 65, regardless of gender or status had to pay this tax, which for many people was the equivalent of a day’s wages. They returned to Caesar something that already belonged to the emperor, a coin bearing his image. For the Jews, that was scandalous for unlike the Romans, they did not see Caesar as a deity.

Instead of taking sides, by saying yea or nay to the question about paying the census tax, Jesus replies with one of his unforgettable lines, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.”

What belongs to Caesar is easy enough for us to know. The many different government agencies, from the county auditor to the IRS, find ways to tell us what we owe in taxes. But what do we repay to God? That is a question that a fair number of us pay little attention to.

At the moment I suspect you are thinking, “There goes Father, talking about money again,” and for good reason. We owe God much more than the loose change in our pockets. We owe God our very existence. What to repay God is an expression of our gratitude for all that God has blessed us with.

Admittedly, many people think of stewardship simply as a way for the parish to raise money. I won’t deny that, but more importantly, stewardship should be seen as a personal and spiritual journey, not just another fund-raising technique. You could say that stewardship is an attitude of gratitude.

The contrast of Caesar and God is a timeless reminder of the world we live in, a clash between the earthly and spiritual powers that compete for our attention. As people of faith, we are continually challenged to travel a road less traveled. That means seeing our relationship with God as an ongoing daily journey, fully conscious of the many spiritual and worldly blessings that we have been given. Such a lifestyle is a dramatic departure from our society’s consumer mindset with its emphasis on wealth, materialism, and individualism.

As people of faith, we are called to share what we have, serve others, and be actively engaged in a faith community. In the typical family setting, its members usually come to realize that each person has an important role to play if the family is to thrive. In the family setting, we can see stewardship at work. When everyone pitches in, life on the home front is richly blessed.

Speaking of families, the late Danny Thomas shared how he was introduced to stewardship as a young man. At a time when his wife, Rosie, was expecting a baby, he lost his life savings of $600. Danny worked part time jobs so Rosie could buy groceries. It was a tough time in his life.

A week before the baby was born, Danny had the grand total of $7.85 to his name. What would he do? “My despair led me to my first exposure to the powers of faith.” That Sunday morning, Danny went to Mass. When the collection basket was passed, he put in his usual one dollar. But something unexpected then happened. The priest announced that another collection was being taken up for missions. Danny felt that he had to give something. “I got carried away and ended up giving my seven dollars.”

He had given away all his money that day. What was he to do? After Mass, he walked up to the altar rail, got on his knees and prayed aloud, “Look, I’ve given my last seven bucks. I need it back tenfold because I’ve got a kid on the way, and I have to pay the hospital bill.” He went home with 85 cents in his pocket…all the money he had in the world.

“You won’t believe this,” Danny later wrote, “but the next morning the phone rang.” It was a job offer for a part in a commercial. It wasn’t much but the pay was good…$75. “I literally dropped the telephone receiver,” Danny related, “First I whooped for joy; then an eerie feeling came over me. The $75 fee, unheard of for me at that time was almost exactly ten times the amount of money I had donated to the church.” Those who remember Danny Thomas will recall that he continued to repay God many times over, raising funds for St. Jude’s children’s hospital in Memphis, TN.

Giving of their time, talent, and treasure may seem a bit overwhelming to most people since they have so much going on in their lives, yet repaying God is something we must all do if we are in fact grateful for all that God has given us in this lifetime.

A married couple in our diocese gave a beautiful testimony to this. They talked about their financial struggles and the decisions they were faced with in the family budget. Worries and troubles overwhelmed them until they started to look at things differently. When all is said and done, they realized, everything comes from God. It all belongs to him. On their
checks, right above the signature line, they had these words imprinted: God owns it all. What a difference that made!

Consider how different your life and mine would be if that truth could penetrate our hearts. God owns it all so, as Jesus said, repay to God what belongs to God.