Aug. 17, 2008: 20th Sunday Ordinary (A) - Focus on Stewardship of Ministry "Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord"
I have a question for the young people here, particularly those of you who are under 14 years old. How many of you take out the trash? How many of you do it because you were asked to? Of those who have raised your hand, how many times does your parents have to ask you before you actually do it? Once, twice, or three times? How many of you do it because you simply want to? In both cases--whether we were asked to or whether we want to on our own--there is a need: a full garbage whose smell is odoriferous and it's affecting our family, and the loving thing to do is to take it out. But until we are convinced that taking out trash is a love in action, we do it grudgingly or we look for a reward like an allowance.
Well, doing things for God is something like taking out the trash. There is a need, and God the Father wants that need to be filled by us. He will do this in two ways. He will ask someone to ask us, or He will inspire that person to be able to see the need as He sees. Now, I'm going to tell a you a story of Steve Bollman who lives in Texas. He was asked by God to fill in a great need--to help renew the mind and hearts of men who are single, husbands, and fathers. And Steve's 'yes' to God affected not only men in Houston but men in Baton Rouge. Steve was an accomplished energy derivatives trader in early 2000 well earning several six figures salary. He had a first hand experience of the pressures that were placed on men and their families. He noticed that among his fellow traders, God and family life were far below their priority. He recognized a need--men who were and were going to be fathers and husbands needed renewal of mind and hearts--to learn how to be again leaders in their household and in their workplace with the heart of God. Jesus was calling these men, and Jesus needed someone to take his message to these men. In 2002, Steve left work, and along with few lay Catholic men formed an organization dedicated to renewal of marriage and family life. They created a men's leadership and spirituality program called "That Man is You."
They began a pilot program at a Houston parish, and quickly the word spread, and more than 200 men began to attend. That program has landed in Baton Rouge three years ago at Our Lady of Mercy parish, and within three years the program has spread to St. George parish, Immaculate Conception in Denham Springs, St. John the Evangelist in Plaquemine, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in St. Francisville. Our Lady of Mercy's program is starting Wednesday, September 3rd at 6AM at their parish activity center. It begins with breakfast, followed by a presentation, and a small group sharing. Regularly more than 100 men attend both Our Lady of Mercy and St. George's programs.
In our own St. Aloysius parish, Jesus is asking us to be "Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord." Shortly after this homily you'll hear a presentation by 2008 Stewardship of Ministry team. Jesus calls us to respond to his needs through this parish. What Jesus may be asking us may be as simple as taking out the trash, but the effect of our 'yes' may be as far reaching as what Steve Bollman did with "That Man is You."
Well, doing things for God is something like taking out the trash. There is a need, and God the Father wants that need to be filled by us. He will do this in two ways. He will ask someone to ask us, or He will inspire that person to be able to see the need as He sees. Now, I'm going to tell a you a story of Steve Bollman who lives in Texas. He was asked by God to fill in a great need--to help renew the mind and hearts of men who are single, husbands, and fathers. And Steve's 'yes' to God affected not only men in Houston but men in Baton Rouge. Steve was an accomplished energy derivatives trader in early 2000 well earning several six figures salary. He had a first hand experience of the pressures that were placed on men and their families. He noticed that among his fellow traders, God and family life were far below their priority. He recognized a need--men who were and were going to be fathers and husbands needed renewal of mind and hearts--to learn how to be again leaders in their household and in their workplace with the heart of God. Jesus was calling these men, and Jesus needed someone to take his message to these men. In 2002, Steve left work, and along with few lay Catholic men formed an organization dedicated to renewal of marriage and family life. They created a men's leadership and spirituality program called "That Man is You."
They began a pilot program at a Houston parish, and quickly the word spread, and more than 200 men began to attend. That program has landed in Baton Rouge three years ago at Our Lady of Mercy parish, and within three years the program has spread to St. George parish, Immaculate Conception in Denham Springs, St. John the Evangelist in Plaquemine, and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in St. Francisville. Our Lady of Mercy's program is starting Wednesday, September 3rd at 6AM at their parish activity center. It begins with breakfast, followed by a presentation, and a small group sharing. Regularly more than 100 men attend both Our Lady of Mercy and St. George's programs.
In our own St. Aloysius parish, Jesus is asking us to be "Co-workers in the Vineyard of the Lord." Shortly after this homily you'll hear a presentation by 2008 Stewardship of Ministry team. Jesus calls us to respond to his needs through this parish. What Jesus may be asking us may be as simple as taking out the trash, but the effect of our 'yes' may be as far reaching as what Steve Bollman did with "That Man is You."
