Fourteenth Friday of Ordinary Time (Mt. 10:16-23) “The Right Choice”
There is a story about Francisco Pizarro which speaks of his courage as an explorer. Pizarro had landed in Panama. He had heard rumors of the riches of Peru. It would be a difficult journey to travel to Peru and find the Inca kingdom.
Pizarro gathered his men and drew a line in the sand. He said, “Friends and Comrades! On that side of the line are toil, hunger, nakedness, the drenching storm, desertion and death, on this side ease and pleasure. There lies Peru with its riches, here Panama and its poverty. Choose each man what best becomes a brave Castilian. For my part I go south.” Thirteen men stepped over the line to go with him, and their names have gone down in history.
Jesus issued the same sort of challenge to his disciples. He did not sugar coat the challenges that his Apostles would face as they went out to the world to proclaim the Gospel. The Apostles were not building an easy life for themselves, but they were preaching a message that would bring consolation to generations of believers.
We have all had moments in our life when we have had to make the choice of playing it safe or taking a risk. When we take a risk, a new opportunity can open before us. When we play it safe, we miss out on life’s adventures.
Jesus, through his church, gives people a choice. We can become active participants in building up the Kingdom or we can passively sit back and be self-satisfied Christians. If we take a risk and engage in Christian activities, we can reap rewards. Some satisfaction will come to us in this life, ultimate reward will be ours in the next.
Reflection Questions:
What is the biggest choice I had to make in this life? How did that choice impact my life?
Is there an opportunity I missed? What might have happened that did not?
Dear Parishioners,
We are collecting names for our Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults class for the fall. Do you know that over 50% of people have no church home? Some people say they are Christian, but they are not active participants in any church.
This means that every other person we pass on the street is not actively religious. Surely there is an abundant harvest to be gathered. As you interact with others, have you ever brought up your faith? This might not be an easy conversation, but it could offer a tremendous opportunity for someone to enrich their life.
If you do encounter someone who would like to be Catholic, please have them contact our office and someone from our staff will reach out to them.
May Our Lady, patroness of peace, pray for us today.
Fr. Mark