Deacon Thien Ta

VIGILANT STEWARDS

Lk 21:5-19; Malachi 3:19-20a; 2 Thes3:7-12

In the island of Maui, we have beautiful sunny and ocean breezes weather year round. Then in 2023 summer, a wildfire swept through Maui’s historic Lahaina town. Houses, apartments, businesses, and even cars were damaged beyond recognition. Over 2,000 structures were destroyed, with an initial estimated cost of $5.5B for rebuilding. The event in Maui, along with those in California, are tragedies that emphasize the impermanency of life. They may or may not have been avoidable, but they are a stark reminder that nothing lasts forever. This thought is also relevant to the gospel reading of today.

In his own words, Jesus said, “the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down” (Lk 21:6). Although the imagery of today’s readings is dreadful, Mother Church offers them as a reminder that the certainty of Christ’s return at the unknown hour of the end times. So, as we near the close of the liturgical year and prepare for the solemn feast of Christ the King, the Gospel calls us to be vigilant and faithful stewards. This means trusting in divine providence and persevering in corporal and spiritual works—not for earthly gain, but as a response to Christ’s promise of salvation for those who remain steadfast in faith.

Like the people in the community that Luke was writing to, I also struggled with the question, “When will this happen” (Lk 21:7) as I reflect on the reading. The unknown time of the Day of the Lord can escalate the anxiety for people like me. After all, many current events have appeared to match Christ’s descriptions of false prophets, wars, plagues, and the continuation of persecutions, especially in Africa and the Middle East. These things cause uneasiness and helplessness, and they induce cracks in the foundation of faith and hope. They can lead to complacency in living a passive life of discipleship.

Perhaps complacency is why Prophet Malachi warned the people of Israel about the Day of the Lord – a day that “will set them on fire, leaving them neither root nor branch” (Malachi 3:19). During the post-Babylon exile era of Judah, the priests and the people committed infidelity to God’s covenant. Their arrogant lifestyle included lax worship, defiled sacrifices, oppressing the vulnerable, engaging in mixed marriages, and neglecting to tithe. Thus, Malachi confronted the people and called them out as the proud and even labeled them, evil doers. People are people, and they have not learned from history. In our society, there are good people, and there are still the proud and evil doers.

Whereas Malachi is fiery and more retributive in his warning, Jesus’ approach to warn the people is more compassionate and hopeful. Jesus did not promise that there would be no wars, insurrections, conflicts between countries, natural disasters, sickness, or persecutions. Instead, He said that we should expect these things to happen. However, He also said to trust in Him that “not a hair on your head will be destroyed”. 

This trust requires perseverance in faith. Now with faith, we receive grace, and grace is the work of perfecting virtues. When Jesus told the people that “By your perseverance you will secure your lives” (Lk 21:19), or in other translations, the above passage is rendered as “By your endurance you will gain your soul” (Lk 21:19 NRSVCE), what does this mean to us now? Perseverance or endurance appears to relate to work. 

In an address to the International Youth Forum in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI said, “work is part of God’s plan for humankind and that it is participation in his work of creation and redemption”. So here, we have two kinds of work: the self-sustaining labor (related to creation) and the work of faith.

1. The redemptive work is the works of faith because this is our participation in Christ’s salvific works. This is not to be confusing that our work alone will save us. Rather, it is Christ’s redemptive works that save us. In this work, our intellect assents to the divine truth, and the will orders it to completion with the works of love. This love drives us to persevere in a life of piety, righteousness, fear of the Lord, humility, peace, and kindness. In other words, we must strive to live a life of holiness.

2. Self-sustaining work is for us. We work to have enough to live, and to support our family. In the second reading, St. Paul uses himself as an example of hard work to support himself so that he does not have to depend on others. Work or labor is part of human dignity because labor in itself can be sanctified and become prayer. When St. Benedict formed his monastic order, he purposely chose the motto, ora et labora, or pray and work. In this sense, labor is not mere toil but a participation in God’s creative act. We work to be self-sustainable. Moreover, the fruits of our labor become the means to support the common goods.

So, both types of work yield spiritual and material goods. As such, we become stewards of these goods. Hence, as responsible stewards, we must use them wisely. We should not solely use these gifts for our own benefit, because at death, we cannot bring material treasures with us. We can only take love because material things we store on earth cannot come us, and also they will not last forever.

Friends, today’s readings urge us to persevere in faith, but faith needs works like a body needs air and food to be alive. St. James warns us about delusion when he said, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only” (Jas 1:22). Faith needs work, and the work is not just spiritual works, but bodily works as well. Today and this week, I invite you to do two things.

1. Not only should you pray for the needy but also donate your treasures to support the people who were affected by the government shutdown, as our Bishop has urged. Although our government recently ended the shutdown, nonetheless, there is a delay that will impact many needy people.

2. Our parish is blessed with generous people. The dynamics of living faith and the growth of this church still need all of you to be accountable stewards of God’s gifts. As you are about to spend money on the coming holiday, please reflect and revisit your commitment to the One Family Campaign and fulfill it. If you have not signed up or donated, please do so. Christ and His Body need you, and you are part of that Body.

Keep in mind what the Catechism says, “Those who hold goods for use and consumption should use them with moderation, reserving the better part for guests, for the sick and the poor” (#2405). Moreover, the 5th precept of the Church emphasizes that “You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church”. This means that the faithful are obliged to assist with the material needs of the Church, each according to his ability (cr #2043).

Friends, we learned from the 2023 wildfire tragedy in Maui that miraculously, during the fire, the Maria Lanakila (Our Lady of Victory) church, built in 1846, survived unscathed by the fire. It became the symbol of hope for the people of Maui. It is a reminder that God was and is present with humanity throughout the ages, especially in times of tribulation. Regardless of what happens, we must be calm and continue to work to build up incorruptible treasures based on faith, hope, and love. It is by endurance that we as a community can become the beacon of hope so that the world comes to know Christ.

May the blessing of God fill us with the spirit of His Son, Christ Jesus, that we may persist in witnessing His love in our families, our parish, and our world. Amen.