30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time B. October 26, 2003. Stewardship Sunday. Our Lady of Grace 5:15, 7:30, 9:30, 11:00. Jeremiah 31: 7-9. Hebrews 5: 1-6, Mark 10: 46-52.

Every time I think that I am beginning to understand you, something happens to help me see you through new eyes. Over and over again, I am deeply moved by your faith in God and your love for the many ministries of this parish community. Three weeks ago a man came up to me after daily Mass. He told me that his wife had cried during much of my homily on the poor people in Ghana. When they got home she reminded him that she had grown up in a house much like the ones I was describing, no indoor plumbing, no electricity, too little food, with very little living space. She told her husband that she had come a long way. She sent him back to church with a $5,000 check for our sister parishes in Africa. Later that morning, as the collection for Ghana from the Sunday Masses was counted, I found myself shaking my head in amazement. There was $53,000 in the Ghana collection. Since then the amount has grown to more than $70,000, and it continues to grow. Even in my wildest dreams, I never expected such an overwhelming expression of generosity. In my eyes you are a wonder to behold.

“As Jesus was leaving Jericho a blind man sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus the bind man cried out, ‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.’ Jesus said to the blind man, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man replied, ‘Master, I want to see.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go on your way; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately the blind man received his sight and followed Jesus on the way.”

When our eyes are healed and we see things differently for the first time, it is much easier to follow Jesus. Seeing the truth about life shows us that nothing else really matters except following Jesus who is eternal truth and the beloved friend who will always be faithful in bringing us to new life.

I believe that the woman who cried during the homily on Ghana saw the needy situation from which she had come more clearly, and along side of it the blessings which were now an ordinary part of her life. She recognized that she had come a long way and that God had been very good to her. She wanted and needed to do something in return. God had touched and healed her eyes so that she could look honestly at her humble beginnings and her present gifts. What she saw made her want to follow Jesus in gratitude and love.

Several years ago I was privileged to bring two boys to the United States from Siberia. The eleven year old was and is a very loving and spiritual little boy. When we visited a Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow he asked me to buy him an icon to bring with him to the United States. Orphans are known to hoard things, and that was true of this little boy as well. Every time we went to the store he would eagerly reach for the change. Whenever he saw coins any place in the house he would beg to have them. He placed them all in a plastic pouch he carried. On Sunday morning he sat in the front pew so I could keep an eye on him. Each Sunday I watched him open up his pouch of hoarded coins and empty the whole thing into the collection basket. Eventually I told him that God didn’t expect everything to go into the collection. He knew that he had come from an orphanage and that almost no one adopts an eleven year old. He knew that he was now adopted and in the United States. He also knew enough to thank God.

Giving begins with seeing our lives truthfully and being honest with ourselves about who we are and what we have received. Giving to our parish is really not about the parish budget and parish needs at all, even though we do have needs. Giving is first and foremost an honest recognition of the blessings we have received. Giving is about wanting and needing to do something significant in expressing our gratitude to God. Giving expresses our desire to help our parish do even more to give glory to God and to help those who are in need. I have asked Bob Strachota, one of our parish trustees, to talk to you about parish giving.

(After the talk) I love Our Lady of Grace. I love your goodness, your generosity and your commitment to the work of Jesus Christ in the world. If possible I would like to see parish income grow by 6% this year. Better yet, you may want to follow the advice of your fellow parishioner and parish trustee Bob Strachota for an even larger increase to make up for the financial situation of the last few years. He has watched parish finances for a much longer time than I have. In filling out and returning your commitment card, please be good to Our Lady of Grace. I am deeply grateful.