Twenty seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time C. October 3, 2004. Our Lady of Grace All Masses. Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4. 2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14. Luke 17:5-10.

God created the universe and the planet earth that we call our home with immense wisdom and love. The mountains and planes, the plants and animals, the sea creatures and the birds all come forth in beautiful and mystifying harmony from the hand of God. God created our human family to care for planet earth and all its creatures, and to continue God’s work of creation by using the minds and hearts God has given us. The Bible tells us that the spirit of Evil brought terror and death into our world. Cain killed his brother Abel and violence took root in our human family. Hatred between individuals, nations, racial and ethnic groups grew. War, terrorism and genocide are facts of life in our world today as they have been for thousands of years. When God saw that his plan for a harmonious planet earth was being ripped apart, he didn’t step aside and write us off as a bad idea or a failed project. God got even more deeply involved,

Yes, God so loved our fragmented world that he sent his own son, not to condemn the world, but so that the world might be healed and saved through him. Jesus came to live among us, not only to teach us, but also to open his arms wide on the cross in one great embrace of divine love. By the blood of the Cross and the grace of his death and resurrection Jesus empowers us to be messenger of unity and peace to the whole human race. The Second Vatican Council called that the world wide Catholic Church is a living sacrament of unity in the world. As members of the Church we share in the healing and unifying mission of Christ to our human family. Because the love of Christ embraces our whole human race, the family of God is a world-wide family and the Catholic Church is a global Church.

The prophet Habakkuk said, “Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife and clamorous discord all around.” This is the story of our world even today. “Then the Lord answered and said, ‘Write down the vision clearly upon tablets, so that one can read it readily. For the vision still has its time, it presses on to fulfillment and it will not disappoint; if it delays, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not be late.”

Pope John Paul has challenged us to reach out and embrace our brothers and sisters in Africa. In response to his challenge and the challenge of the American Bishops we began a sister parish relationship with two parishes in Ghana, West Africa, a little over a year ago. Our goal is to heal the sad divisions, prejudices, and hatreds that plague our human race and to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I have visited Ghana twice in little over a year. I now know the joy of sitting and talking with friends in the evening without remembering that most of them are black and I am white, or that they are Africans and I am an American. We are all Catholic Christians and friends. The mustard seed that we have to offer God is our sister parish relationship with two African parishes. If we have faith, this small mustard seed will grow and the world will be a better place.

Last May I went to Ghana with eight members of our parish to strengthen the bonds of friends with our African friends, Gene Frey, a long-time member of Our Lady of Grace parish and a well known member of the Archdiocesan and business communities went with us. Gene was an insightful and kind traveling companion. I would like to invite Gene Frey to speak with us at this time.

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Last year we raised a little over $100,000 on our first Ghana Sunday. We were surprised and very happy. An anonymous donor gave a $5,000 matching grant. Eleven other parishioners matched that $5,000 grant. Gene and Mary Frey were among them. Gene just told us that after seeing the situation in Ghana he and Mary are doubling their gift of last year. My challenge is this: Are their individuals, families or groups of individuals in the parish that can do the same? A report on how we used your gifts is in the parish bulletin. A collection for the wonderful people of Ghana will be taken up at the doors after Mass. Please be generous. Our two sister parishes in Africa are an important part of our vocation and mission as a parish. Please help us build a better world together.