January 29, 2023 • Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

In my last column I continued to address how we embrace our baptism through a correct attitude of tithing and stewardship. Tithing and stewardship are about having the right attitude of dependence, thanksgiving and desire to serve God’s will. It is the desire to be an instrument of God by sharing his bounty with the world. It is about wanting to be that disciple whose very life proclaims the Kingdom of God in how we make use of material goods. This attitude must inevitably lead to a stronger and proper relationship with God, and a daily desire to deepen that relationship. But again, stewardship and tithing are not simply about our material gifts but also about our time and talents: how they must be put into service for the Kingdom of God.

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus teaches us about stewardship through the parable of the talents. Jesus says, “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one—to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

“After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’ [Then] the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’

“Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so, out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So, you knew that I harvest where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter. Should you not then have put my money in the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from him and give it to the one with ten. For, to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’”

I am amazed by how many people tell me that they do not get involved in Church activities beyond going to Mass. The excuses they give is that they are too busy, or not sure what they can do, or the worst one: no one has asked me to get involved. These excuses and so many others are just that—excuses. Jesus makes clear in the parable above what He expects of his disciples; through our baptism we have a duty and responsibility to get involved in promoting the Kingdom of God. If we do not actively make use of our time and talents, Jesus will hold us personally responsible at the end of our lives. And He will not accept any excuses for why we decided not to engage in his command. If you are waiting to be asked, Christ has already done so.

This brings to mind an incident in my own life when I was working as a software engineer at Digital. I had been in my position for about a year and a half when Steve, one of my colleagues, came to talk to me. He said that if I didn't make some changes, I would probably, in the next few months, be in danger of losing my job. He explained that I was not taking enough initiative in my work. I told him that I did whatever my supervisor asked me to do and I thought that was enough. He made it very clear to me that it was not. I needed to figure out ways to make myself a more valuable contributor to the project and to start taking on tasks without being asked. I thanked him for his insight and then started to look at what more I could do. I decided to volunteer to take on an important part of the project called The Build, and from there things began to change quickly for me. After about a year my role in the group dramatically changed and I was given a 14% raise. Steve didn’t tell me what to do. I needed to look at my own talents and figure out what more I could do to benefit the work my group was doing.

In the same way, the parish needs each and every person to take the initiative and put their time and talents to work for God’s kingdom. It is not always possible for someone else to figure out exactly what you should be doing. Steve didn’t tell me exactly what I should do, only that I needed to be doing more. He gave me a wakeup call. We need to find out for ourselves what we can and should be doing for the parish to reach its potential in Christ.

If you have any questions about anything, please do not hesitate to ask me directly, email me (link above) or call me at (978) 254-0560.

Please keep me in your prayers.                                                                     
In Christ,

Fr. Brian

Fr. Brian 2023 Weekly Articles

January 22, 2023
January 15, 2023
January 8, 2023
January 1, 2023
 

Fr. Brian 2022 Weekly Articles

December 25, 2025
December 18, 2022
December 11, 2022
December 4, 2022
November 27, 2022
November 20, 2022
November 13, 2022
November 6, 2022
October 30, 2022
October 23, 2022
October 16, 2022
October 9, 2022
October 2, 2022
July 31 - September 25: Ten Commandment Articles (to left)
July 24, 2022
July 17, 2022
July 10, 2022
July 3, 2022
June 26, 2022
June 19, 2022
June 12, 2022
June 5, 2022
May 29, 2022
May 22, 2022
May 15, 2022
May 8, 2022
May 1, 2022
April 24, 2022
April 17, 2022
April 10, 2022
April 3, 2022
March 27, 2022
March 20, 2022
March 13, 2022
March 6, 2022
February 27, 2022
February 20, 2022
February 13, 2022
February 6, 2022
January 30, 2022
January 23, 2022
January 16, 2022
January 9, 2022
January 2, 2022

 Ten Commandment Article Series

                                
   First  Second
  Third  Fourth Fifth    Sixth and Ninth CommandmentsSeventh and Tenth Commandments
     8th Commandment                   Conclusion              

Fr. Brian Eucharist Articles

• Week One: Introduction to Eucharist
• Week Two: Eucharist a Noun
• Week Three: Eucharist as Verb
• Week Four: Eucharist as Sacrifice
• Week Five: Eucharist as Meal
• Week Six: Eucharist as Covenant/Memorial
• Week Seven: Conclusion 

Fr. Brian Teaching on The Mass
From October 18 - November 15, 2021, Fr Brian presented a 5-week Teaching on The Mass. Below you can find a link to both his videos as well as the coinciding articles that appeared in the previous Sunday's bulletin.

Teaching on The Mass Videos

• Part One: Why we go to Mass
• Part Two: Introductory Rites
• Part Three: Liturgy of the Word
• Part Four: Liturgy of the Eucharist
• Part Five: Concluding Rites

Coming soon....

Fr. Brian 2021 Weekly Articles

December 26, 2021
December 19, 2021
December 12, 2021
December 5, 2021
November 28, 2021
November 21, 2021
November 14, 2021
November 7, 2021
October 31, 2021
October 24, 2021
October 17, 2021
October 10, 2021
October 3, 2021
September 26, 2021
September 19, 2021
September 12, 2021
September 5, 2021 [No Article]
August 29, 2021
August 22, 2021
August 15, 2021
August 8, 2021
August 1, 2021
July 25, 2021
July 18, 2021
July 11, 2021
July 4, 2021
June 27, 2021
June 20, 2021
June 13, 2021
June 6, 2021
May 30, 2021
May 23, 2021
May 16, 2021
May 9, 2021
May 2, 2021
April 25, 2021
April 18, 2021 [No Article]
April 11, 2021
April 4, 2021 [Easter]
March 28, 2021
March 21, 2021
March 14, 2021
March 7, 2021
February 28, 2021
Februry 21, 2021
February 14, 2021
February 7, 2021
January 31, 2021
January 24, 2021
January 17, 2021
January 10, 2021
January 3, 2021

Fr. Brian 2020 Weekly Articles

December 27, 2020
December 20, 2020
December 13, 2020
December 6, 2020
November 22, 2020
November 8, 2020
November 1, 2020
October 25, 2020
October 18, 2020
October 11, 2020
October 4, 2020
September 27, 2020
September 20, 2020
September 13, 2020
September 6, 2020
August 30, 2020
August 23, 2020
August 16, 2020
August 9, 2020
August 2, 2020
July 26, 2020
July 19, 2020
July 12, 2020
July 5, 2020
June 28, 2020
June 21, 2020
June 14, 2020
June 7, 2020
May 31, 2020
May 24, 2020
May 17, 2020
May 10, 2020
May 3, 2020
April 26, 2020
April 19, 2020
​​​​​​​April 12, 2020
April 5, 2020
March 29, 2020
March 22, 2020
March 15, 2020
March 8, 2020
February 23, 2020
February 16, 2020