Fr. Bill's Weekly Message
for 9/20/98
Dear Parishioners:
This past Sunday we heard about the two sons of a
loving father. We know well the Prodigal. The elder son had forgotten
what it meant to serve with honor. It is an honor to serve God.
Whenever God invites you or me, He honors us.
When He asks a young man or woman to say, "Yes," to serve as a priest,
brother, or sister, He honors that one. When He asks a man or woman to
marry and start a family, He honors them.
Serving God is not meant to be a drudgery, but to
be a life of joy and participation in God's mission. God does not desire
to work out His plan of salvation without us. He has decided to have you
and me cooperate with Him.
Webster defines honor as a good name or public esteem;
a showing of unusual respect; a person of superior standing; chastity or
purity in the sense one's honor being fought for; et al. Some of its synonyms
include homage, reverence, and deference.
All of us should be striving to have this kind of
honor. If we as a society decide that this is no longer important or
that a sound economic program is more valuable, we will take a serious
step towards greater debauchery. Sound economies are important. They make
human rights more readily achievable, alleviate hunger more quickly, and
raise the human spirit to a more worthy height. On the other hand, when
we put honor on the lower rung, we put persons below a good check balance.
It is this kind of attitude that puts the unborn at risk, the elderly on
the edge, the sick in harm's way. Honor is what begins to put economics
in the correct order.
There are some things more important than money.
We all agree with that. Those without honor, however, do not act in this
way. Convenience and pleasure take precedence over, and principles become
ruled by passions. We may make good decisions about economic affairs, but
more by mistake than foresight. We offer a horrible example to our youth.
We become just one more reason not to trust in goodness and truth.
Let each of us pledge to be women and men of honor.
It is then that we will see that to serve God is to be honored by God.
Our Father honors those who serve, who stand for the truth, who live by
His statutes, follow His laws. Our greatest honor will one day be to live
with Him forever in the fullness of heaven. These years are our opportunity
to earn that ultimate honor. It has been won for us. Let us live to
attain the honor which will last for all eternity.
God bless,
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