Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time - A November 13, 2005

Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6 Matthew 25: 14-30

Last weekend I was quietly exercising the male prerogative, TV remote in hand, of going through some of the many channels which are available. I was doing so with the benefit of being a celibate male: without any outside comment or criticism. In the course of doing this, I happened across a program, perhaps on PBS, which treats of the subjects of religion and ethics. The short scene which I saw had a woman speaking, in the context of being at home with her children. What caught my attention was her comment, “I am a Catholic” after which she proceeded to describe what she considered to be proper Catholic behavior. What she described reflected, in many ways, basic Christian values, some fundamental gospel teachings.

As I thought of what she had said, I recognized that her remarks were commendable. She described a worthy approach to living life. But she said that she was “Catholic” rather than, simply, Christian. I wondered what might distinguish what she might have said that would have distinguished her from anyone who is a believing and acting Christian. What is it that should take us, as Catholics, beyond hearing or reading the teachings of Jesus and acting on them in the decisions and choices we make in our lives? Is there a difference?

For example, today we heard a very clear teaching from Jesus. In the gospel story, the master entrusts some of his wealth to certain servants. He commends those who used this opportunity responsibly and increased the master’s wealth. The lesson is obvious: we are to use our God-given abilities, talents that are ours, for the betterment of ourselves and others. We are not to ignore or bury the opportunities in life to do this. I firmly believe in this outlook on live and have tried both to advocate it and to implement it myself.

The teaching of Jesus in the gospel is also reflected in the writings of the author of Wisdom in which a description is given of the “worthy wife.” What is described is not how every wife ought to be. Rather, we are given an image of a woman, acting in the context of her times, using her own abilities and talents - in partnership with het husband - to create a successful, commendable household, to enhance, better and improve her own circumstances in life.

As lessons on living, on how we ought to act, both of these examples are straightforward and easy to understand. But is there not more that we can understand in the context of the Catholic Faith? Is there something that distinguishes what we believe not only as Christian, but also, and specifically as Catholic Christians? Yes, there is.

We believe that in the effort that we make to live out these fundamental teachings of Jesus, Christ is with us. He is with us not in some vague way, as the memory of a great moral teacher in history. He is with us in and with his Real Presence. In our journey in life, with walk with Jesus Christ who comes to us and is with us genuinely, really, sacramentally. In the various stages of our lives, God is present to us in the sacraments, in a real presence which guides us, strengthens us, aids us.

Week to week, day to day, this same Jesus Christ who taught these lessons on living to us, comes to us, is with us, in the Eucharist we celebrate and share. As Jesus gathered is followers around himself then and taught them, calls us together, here and now, in this place, to engage each of us and have us engaged one another in our common faith. He is with us to encourage us and calls us to encourage one another by our presence and by our response to God and to one another. He is present to us in the Word we hear, in the assembly of believers we are, in the person of the celebrant of the Eucharist. Most especially he is here and he feeds us with himself in his Body and Blood so that we can go out into our world today, once again, doing good and avoiding evil, loving God and loving one another. We do this, not simply because it is a worthwhile way of living, but because we are convinced of his words, “I am with you.” We have, indeed, encountered him in the breaking of the bread. This is why it is so vital that we come together here, that we are present here, because it is only in this way that we can share Christ’s Real Presence with us.

The woman in the television program, in stating that she was Catholic, could have strengthened her response that she was Catholic by saying that she had encountered Christ that day in the Eucharist she had shared in her community of Catholic believers. She could have said, as we ought to say, in words and in actions, that the Real Presence of Christ that I shared empowers me to live and to act with conviction in the presence with me of our good and loving God.