The underlying theme to all three readings this week is faith. The prophet Habakkuk cries out to God with a question common to every human heart: Why does God allow evil to persist in the world? As you read these three passages, consider how God doesn’t answer the question – and how he does. Ultimately, it’s a question of faith.

Last weekend were days of joy and fun! The drizzle was a blessing! And the concluded 2019 Harvest Festival was a panorama of ONE community: leaders and staff moved as one; volunteers were amazing; and visitors were wonderful. In one shot, it’s more fun at St. Paul the Apostle Parish! For all that has been, THANKS! For all that will be, YES! See you all at the 2020 Harvest Festival!

This weekend, September 27, 28 and 29, we celebrate our 2019 Parish Harvest Festival. Let our inborn goodness and our uncontested exercise of service be put into practice. Our Harvest Festival’s theme: “WE are ONE – one Heart, one Lord, one Community” calls us to continue becoming “visible signs of God’s love!”

Here Jesus tells the story of a rich man who feasted every single day while a beggar named Lazarus starved to death outside of the gates of the rich man’s house. The poor man ends up in the bosom of Abraham while the rich man ends up in Hades. There is a double lesson here about how we use our time and possessions in this life and how some people cannot hear or understand the Truth, even if spoken by someone who has returned from the dead. The common denominator for both is a pitiable hardness of heart that does not recognize the needs of others or the Truth when it’s right in front of them.

Many people find today’s Gospel passage a little confusing. It tells the story of the dishonest steward who shrewdly foregoes his commission on his master’s loans in order to gain favor among those who may be of help to him in the future. While Jesus is not commending dishonesty, He is challenging us to consider what we should give up in order to plan for the future. And not just any kind of future, but our eternal future.

As we continue celebrating the 173rd Apparition of Our Lady of La Salette, please be with us as we “walk the talk” of the great news of reconciliation that, to whenever and anywhere we minister, we always become the ambassadors of the ministry of reconciliation 24/7!

Do you remember a time when you lost something, perhaps a much-valued possession? When we lose something of high value, we search and search until we finally find it. And the discovery brings such a sense of relief. The greater the value of what was lost, the more we rejoice in finding it. In this Gospel, Jesus shows how our human feelings also echoes an eternal truth.

Don’t underestimate Jesus’ love. No matter where we are, no matter what condition we find ourselves, no matter how multitude our sins are, Jesus will continue loving us. Whatever it takes, he will forgive us - even dying on the cross, he will do it over again just for you and me. The reason is simple: Jesus loves us very much!

What are you willing to give up to follow Jesus? That’s the question in today’s Gospel. Jesus proclaims that no one is worthy to be called His disciple unless he “hates” those people dearest to him, or renounces his possessions, takes up his cross and follows Jesus to wherever He leads (and if one is carrying a cross, then that led to only one place). We may try to qualify Jesus’ words, but they proclaim a great truth: there are no half-measures when following Jesus. He requires everything of us. Are we willing to say yes to that?

Jesus is challenging every person who claims to be a Catholic to take a moral stand against the evils of our times, such us poverty, racism, violence, abortion and capital punishment.

It’s human nature for us to want places of honor. Yet Jesus challenges us to do the opposite: to seek the “lowest place.” While many in the world compete for worldly prestige and honor, Jesus is asking Christians to outdo one another in the practice of true humility.

Humility is openness to the Spirit! Being open to the Spirit is being sensitive to where God wants us to serve, like reaching out to the poor and marginalized in our society. Do note that the poor and marginalized are not charity cases or objects of pity but as our brothers and sisters that need our love. When humility is practiced with modesty, we become the reservoir of incredible values, like: honesty, sincerity, generosity, simplicity and compassion.

Today’s Gospel reading may surprise us. Jesus’ words don’t seem to fit the peaceful forgive-your-enemies-and-turn-the-other-cheek image of Jesus we might have. In fact, he says quite explicitly that he didn’t come to establish peace, but rather, division. What do you think Jesus means by this?

Pope Francis describes this “FIRE” as: “the fire of the Holy Spirit; a creative force that purifies and renews; it burns away every human misery, all selfishness and every sin; and transforms us from within, regenerates and makes us capable of loving… The fire of divine love… does not come from the head but from the heart.”

“For where your treasure is, there also your heart will be.” These words of Jesus challenge us to ask ourselves about our real priorities in life. What is most important? One look at how we use our time or spend our money will tells us what is truly important. Then comes the bigger question: do our priorities line up with God’s?

There’s nothing inherently evil about owning the things we need. However, when our way of life is controlled by our wealth, there’s always a tendency that we neglect our duty to God, our obligations to our families and our responsibilities to our neighbors.

The Old Testament reading reminds us that we can spend our whole lives acquiring things but, in the end, all of our possessions will go to those who haven’t worked for them. This sets us up for the Gospel reading, as Jesus addresses a man who wants him to settle a dispute about an inheritance. As always, Jesus turns the immediate issue into a lesson about a greater truth.

Greed is a complex conundrum! Spiritual writers tell us that, “possession of money is not the ultimate problem; what matters most is one’s disposition, desires and attitude. The renunciation of money is an outward sign of the more important inward struggle.”

Though we often take the “Our Father” for granted, it is good to remember how remarkable and radical it was for Jesus to begin the prayer not with “Almighty God” or “Mighty King” but with the most personal and intimate name: our Father. Through those words we are invited into a relationship as one of a beloved child coming to ask a loving parent for the things we need.

When we pray it, we begin by addressing God as “FATHER”. It reminds us of a FATHER who created us in his image and likeness; and the God who is very extravagant in his love! When we say, “Hallowed be your name,” we are injected in his holiness, so he sanctifies us to become saints.