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Thirty-Second Sunday In Ordinary Time, November 16, 2014, by Fr. Kevin Anderson

When I was 4 years old and my brother was 5 years old, we waited every day for my Dad to come home for lunch.  He had the mail and he would look through as he arrived.  Well, my brother and I would stand there and ask, “Is there anything for me?  Anything for me?”  Golly, I couldn’t even read, but I wanted mail.  And every day, Dad would carefully examine each mail item reading to whom it was for [demonstrate looking through a stack of mail] . . . taunting us and declaring, “Nope.” 

 

Now, in those days, all the mail was delivered via mail boxes on the street.  There were no boxes on houses. So one day, my brother and I decided to do something about this situation. He pulled me along in a red wagon [demonstrate with a wagon] and as the mail man in the car was putting mail in the boxes, we were right behind him taking out the mail and putting it in the wagon.  We followed him all around the neighborhood.  He never saw us.  No one saw us.  When we got home, we didn’t open any of it.  I mean, why?  We still couldn’t read.  But we hid the mail in a window cell of our home and covered it with straw. 

 

My brother claims the mail was there for weeks . . . and you can imagine BIG MAIL ROBBERY!  For people were expecting checks and letters . . . all stolen.  Well, finally my Mom found the mail and . . . well let’s just say we didn’t simply get a “time out” for this. 

 

You know, lots of us act like me and my brother back then.  We are only looking out for ourselves.  We get something and we keep it . . . even hide it.  We don’t want to share it with anyone.  For example, think of all the things that you have . . . and think of all the worry you have that someone might steal it or take it away.  So we spend lots of time and energy hiding what it given to us.  Protecting it.  Keeping it all to ourselves, because maybe we’ll need it in the future. 

 

We are like the third servant in the gospel story.  He gets some money and he’s afraid he might lose it, so he digs a hole and hides it.  Well the master is not too pleased with him.  How pleased is God with you . . . and with all that you have been given?  How much do you simply worry that you won’t have enough, so you only look at yourself and forget to give back to God?

 

For many of us, we feel entitled to our money.  Money has replaced God as our main focus in life.

 

Many of us only want to protect our money or hide our money.  And when we are invited to give  back to God, we only give back a little.  For example, thinking that only after I look out for myself or I take care of my needs  . . . then maybe, maybe . . . I could give a little bit away to help others.  Or give a little bit back to God. 

 

There is a biblical theory called “tithing.”  Which means, we give back to God first . . . at least 10% of what we receive, then with the rest we use to take care of ourselves.  I know it sounds weird, but I know that everyone who practices tithing NEVER is hurting for money.  NEVER. 

It is hard to believe, I know.  But it is not giving AFTER I take care of myself, but it is giving in thanksgiving for all that God has given me.   It is a spiritual “letting go,” thanking God and trusting God. 

 

If you have money worries, maybe you need to look at how much you give back to God.  The 10% concept means . . . 5% to the Church, 1% to the Diocese and 4% to all the other great organization and groups that help others.  It is not “tipping” it is “trusting.”

 

You know in the first reading and in the Psalm response today, there is the notion of “fear of the Lord.”  That does not mean being afraid of God.  Why be afraid of God? . . . God is love.  Fear of the Lord means fearing that we are not doing God’s will, but only our own will.   

 

Here are some questions to ponder this week: 

How has God blest you?

What does God want for you?

How do you give back to God? 

 

Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give.”

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