Thursday, September 28, 2017

Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Haggai 1:1-8; Luke 9:7-9)

Twenty years ago the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was building its new cathedral with a price tag of $300 million. A group of lay Catholics who worked with the very poor were outraged by the amount and actively protested the construction.  With prophetic boldness they claimed the new cathedral was a needless extravagance.  Confident that the Church was caring sufficiently for the poor in the area, the archbishop proceeded with the building project.

We hear of a similar tug-a-war between spending on social needs and constructing a monument to God in the reading from the prophet Haggai today.  In this case, the prophet also takes the side of construction.  He speaks out what he hears God telling him: concentrating on satisfying human desires has rendered scant benefit to the people.  He emphasizes that now is the time to focus on life’s chief priority – a faithful relationship with God which the Temple promotes.  He might add that other needs such as assistance to the poor will fall in order and be readily met.

Interesting, economists have verified the strategy of spending money on social projects like a Temple in times of recession.  It provides jobs for people which stimulate consumer spending and the creation of wealth.  Building a temple or a church will also remind us to keep our priorities straight.  First we give God His due and then take care of other needs.  God will see that no one is left wanting.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Thursday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Haggai 1:1-8; Luke 9:7-9)

Fifteen years ago the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was building its new cathedral with a price tag of $300 million. A group of lay Catholics who worked with the very poor were especially scandalized by the amount and actively protested the construction.  With prophetic boldness they claimed there was a needless extravagance.  Confident that the Archdiocese was caring sufficiently for the poor, Cardinal Mahoney proceeded with the project.

We hear of a similar tug-a-war between spending on social needs and constructing a monument to God in the reading from the prophet Haggai today.  In this case, the prophet takes the side of construction.  He speaks out what he hears God telling him: that concentrating on human needs has brought little social benefit; now is the time to give God His due and to trust in God’s providence.

Interesting, economists have verified the strategy of spending money on social projects like a Temple in times of recession.  It provides jobs for people which stimulate consumer spending and the creation of wealth.  Building a temple or a church will also remind us to keep our priorities in order.  First we worship God and then take care of other needs.  He will see that we are not left wanting.

Homilette for Thursday, September 27, 2007

Thursday, XXV Week of Ordinary Time, Commemoration of St. Vincent de Paul

(Haggai 1)

Ten years ago when the Archdiocese of Los Angeles was building its new cathedral, lay Catholics working with the very poor protested the construction. With prophetic boldness they claimed that its cost of $300 million was a needless extravagance. Confident that the Archdiocese was doing what it could to help the poor, Cardinal Mahoney proceeded with the project.

We hear of a similar tug-a-war between spending on social needs and constructing a monument to God in the reading from the prophet Haggai today. In this case, the prophet takes the side of construction. God should receive glory, he intimates, so that everyone may keep priorities in right order. Construction in such a case often has measurable social benefit. In the presence of great institutions, people produce more in order to maintain their environment.

Today we remember one of the greatest organizers on behalf of both the poor and the institutional Church. St. Vincent de Paul would tell the congregation of sisters he founded that it was quite all right for them to leave prayers to attend to the needs of the poor. He insisted that it is just going from Christ to Christ. He also championed the Church in opposition to the Jansenist heresy which limits the efficacy of grace. The Congregation of Missions, the order of priests St. Vincent founded, has also aided the Church by distinguishing itself in seminary education.