Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

 Jesus uses a parable of a wealthy man, about to travel, who gives money to each of his three servants. On his return, he asks what they did with these monies. The first two multiplied their monies. The third buried it.

The parable probes: are we using our talents as best we can for one another? Or are we squandering them?

Today’s passages from Proverbs, Thessalonians and Matthew challenge us to be men and women of faith in God.

Some of you may remember the Rolling Stones song, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”? That line echoes the cry of the human heart. We pursue many things, but it seems we're never satisfied.

 True satisfaction comes through faith, a gift from God: and through Jesus Christ, who said, “I came so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly.” Faith empowers us to have a relationship with God. Now faith is richer and deeper than belief. Belief is a statement about the essential truths of our faith.

The biblical Abraham is a model of faith in practice:

·       Faith trusts in God's unconditional love for us. Abraham said yes to God’s call to travel to an unknown place. He didn't know where he was going, but he knew with whom-- with God! That leap of faith brought him blessings. Abraham trusted God even if the evidence seemed to point otherwise. He kept faith despite doubts.

 

·       Faith sees beyond this earthly life. We live in an “instant” culture, “instant satisfaction.” Abraham was in it for the long haul. He was a stranger in a foreign land, staying in tents. Yet once he made his leap of faith, he didn’t look back. “He was looking forward to the heavenly city with foundations, whose architect and maker is God.”

 

·       Faith is staying true to God despite challenges. Keeping our eyes fixed on God. Trusting in God. Abiding with him. Serving him with all our heart.

       

Our Christian faith is a gift that empowers us to have a right relationship with the triune God as creator, redeemer and sanctifier. Faith invites us to live with the living Christ, to follow him: our way to eternal life, our truth who sets us free, and our light who illuminates the way toward our heavenly dwelling place. Faith is about connectedness with God…that we nurture especially through the sacramental life of our Church.

So this is my prayer for all of us: May God who loves us unconditionally increase our faith so that we can see – beneath and beyond first appearances -- the presence of God all around us.  And may that experience inspire us to live an ever more God-like life.