Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (2022-2023)

Introduction

We love to fit into something and identify ourselves with a football team, a military background, a graduate college or university, and even a political party. Sometimes, those around us can easily recognize it.

But today's Gospel reminds us of what should come first before anything else.

We are God's coins, God's currency, and the very first thing we should carry is God's image in us.

At the beginning of this Eucharist, let us ask for forgiveness, as sometimes it was not the priority in our life.

Homily

When I served as a pastor in NYC, our maintenance guy couldn't come every day.

Often, before the Saturday Vigil Mass, I had to clean the pathway and stairs from the trash, chewing gums, and broken bottles from the street to avoid getting a ticket.

Anyone who has visited the East Village in Manhattan after a Friday night knows the kind of mess you can find.

One day, while cleaning at the entrance to the Parish Office, two Polish ladies approached me and asked if it was open.

I told them it wasn't open, but offered my help without telling them my identity.

They assumed I was the janitor because I was in my work clothing.

After letting them in, they expressed their interest in buying tickets for a Parish event.

They went on to praise all the good things they had heard about the parish and how active and famous it was in the Polish Community. I couldn't resist hearing these words, with a bit of some humor.

I thanked them and told them it wasn't as perfect as they thought. I added that there was one terrible thing about Saint Stanislaus.

They both looked at me in surprise. I said it was the Pastor and then complained that he was a madman and that they should be very careful because you never know when he might lose his temper or become upset (remember, I was the pastor).

They were visibly alarmed and even tried to console me, suggesting it might not be that bad.

It seemed I had played the part convincingly. At the end of my dramatic act, I introduced myself as Father Rafal, the Pastor of Saint Stanislaus.

I've never seen people so relieved and laughing.

In no time, they were asking for a registration form for the Parish, wanting to become the members.

But it happens that people leave the parishes, even St. Mark, because they don't like the music, or there are two priests having strong Spanish accents, as I recently learned about Fr. Dominik and myself, or things at Saint Mark aren't as they were at the beginning.

Sometimes people are looking for a perfect church according to their expectations, but is it possible to find the perfect one? Have you heard the saying, "If you ever find the perfect church, please don't join it. If you do, it won't be perfect anymore!"

Yes, none of us are perfect, I’m not, and even in this Mass, during this celebration, we can find many imperfect moments, for example, this homily is going already too long :)

There is no such thing as a perfect parish or perfect Church. Some are closer to the Gospel ideal than others.

Our second reading, from the First Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians, gives us an example of a Church that's not perfect but is very close.

At least four times in the entire letter, Paul gave thanks for that church and the way it responded to his ministry (1:2; 2:13: 3:9; 5:18).

You might wonder, what made this Church stand out in Paul's eyes?

To understand this, let's go into the characteristics of Christian life he gives in verse 3.

We give thanks to God always for all of you, remembering you in our prayers, unceasingly calling to mind

your work of faith and

labor of love

and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,

before our God and Father, knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.

Saint Paul praises them for Their work of faith.

What does it mean?

It's about work inspired by faith. Nothing tells us more about the people than the way they work.

There are different motives for working. Some might work out of fear of reprimand, while others work from a solemn sense of duty.

Yet, there are those who are inspired by faith to work.

The Thessalonians were commended because their work was motivated by faith.

They viewed their work as a gift from God, the way of giving Him glory.

Then Saint Paul praises them that there is the labor which is prompted by love.

Their labor was an expression of love.

To give you an example, raising children is a good illustration of labor born out of love. Love motivates parents to care for their children.

Sometimes, when people are unhappy with what they do, it often suggests that they have lost their primary motivation - being motivated by love. Any motivation other than love can lead to burnout and unhappiness.

Saint Paul praises them also for their "endurance in hope."

The Greek word for endurance was "hypomeno," [hoop-OH-mehn-oh] and its literal (etymological) meaning was to stay firm under.

It could mean the firmness of a foundation that gives stability under a building.

Or it could mean the firmness of someone who stands his ground when he is under attack.

This kind of firmness is evident in the saints and martyrs. They embodied this "endurance in hope" to the max.

Pope Francis said: The Church is not “a community of perfect people” but people who recognise they are “sinners.”

Let’s Remember, while we may not be perfect, with faith, love, and hope, we can shine God's light and His mercy brightly in the world.