Weekly THIS AND THAT for September 30, 2007: The Church Exists to Assist Us in Knowing Jesus Christ

This and That:
The Church Exists to Assist Us in Knowing Jesus Christ

On the weekend of September 16th, Father Nick preached at all the Masses inviting all to prayerfully consider making a pledge to this year’s Annual Offertory Renewal. The homily he gave follows.

Introduction

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was too crowded. “I can’t go to Sunday School,” she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. The pastor took her by the hand and brought her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy she went to bed that night thinking of the children who had no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, the little girl lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor to handle the final arrangements. On her was found a worn red purse that seemed to have come from some trash dump. Inside it there was 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: “This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.” Reading the note, the Pastor knew instantly what he would do. He told his congregation the story of her unselfish love and devotion and he challenged his people to raise enough money for a larger building. A wealthy realtor offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When he heard that the church could not pay that amount, he offered to sell it for … yes, 57 cents. Inspired, church members began giving and within five years the little girl’s gift had increased to $250,000, which was a huge sum for that time in the late 1900’s. Her belief that (1) The Church was needed to help others to know Jesus Christ and (2) Her willingness to give sacrificially, paid off in large dividends.

First Reading

The need for a community of faith to support us in our relationship with God is so evident in the first and second readings. In the first, from the Book of Exodus, you have Moses as head of the community going to the Jewish People because they have become depraved. They’ve given up their belief in God, turned from worship, and are now bowing down to idols, in fact, a golden calf. They have become “stiffed necked,” that is, resolute in their wayward ways and unwilling to hear the Lord and Moses pleads with God to hold off his punishment. He goes to the People to bring them back to worship of the God of their fathers. Without a community of faith and without the leadership of a Moses’ it is very easy to go adrift and become lost.

Second Reading

Paul, in his Letter to Timothy, is praising God for the ministry of the Church. In his own words he has gone from “a blasphemer, a persecutor and arrogant” to a life full of grace, faith and love. As a sinner then, he knows firsthand, through the community of believers, God’s tender mercy and outstanding patience, and for that experience he’s willing to give God the honor and glory that is rightly due him. Paul’s testimony is that what God has done in him through grace, has been done so others might see! And it takes a Church to see that going on. It takes a Church to name it. It takes a Church to proclaim it as we do today.

Application

Last week I sent you a letter to share what the Church, as our parish, has done and what it needs to do this year to continue being the Body of Christ in this community. This week you will be receiving a second letter from me asking for your support through regular, weekly, Offertory giving that supports our worship, programs, and services done through our 60 ministries. In the letter will be a commitment card that helps you understand your commitment in relationship to the gifts that God has given you. And just as it took a community of faith to draw the Jews back to the faithful worship of God, and again, it took a Church to turn the likes of a St. Paul around, so it takes a parish to do the same for us and for others today.

Conclusion

The next time you are in Philadelphia, you might look up the Temple Baptist Church. It now seats 3,300 people and the Sunday School building adjoining it houses hundreds of children. And in one of the rooms you will find the picture of the sweet little girl whose 57 cents made such a difference. What the story of that little poor girl continues to tell us all is that (1) The Church exists to assist us in coming to Jesus Christ and (2) For that we need to give thanks. Let our generous response to the Annual Offertory Renewal be a symbol of that thanks.

Gratefully,
Father Nick Amato