St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We are in the nineteenth ordinary Sunday of year C. The first reading from Wisdom explores three key topics for both biblical and Greek wisdom traditions: foreknowledge, divine justice and the good. These three topics described in the reading lead us to a better understanding of who the people are, who God is, and the relationship between them. How do we try to grow in our relationship with God and His people, through the wisdom we gain by our spiritual life?

Second reading tells us about the significance of faith in one's life. The Old Testament community identified faith as a profoundly personal and spiritual reality which is constitutively tied to salvation history. OT figures like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob endured their lives by abiding in faith. They not only recognized God’s goodness but trusted it. By faith, they saw a future they would never occupy and remained confident in God’s promises to them. How does our faith lead us to attain God’s promises?

The Gospel continues the themes found in the first and second readings in the context of one’s relationship with God and with others. The first part of the Gospel tells us that God delights in giving the kingdom to us. Additionally, faithful trust in the Father’s generosity calls for vigilant engagement in the Lord’s work. The second part is a dialogue between Peter and Jesus, considering the negative repercussions of unfaithfulness. Our Lord contrasts faithful and unfaithful stewards. Which category we wish to belong between these two types of stewards? Do we consider our stewardship significant and be faithful fulfilling our responsibilities?

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony