-
September 22, 2025“On this Catechetical Sunday, we look back to our‘foundation’of faith; how was it formed, who was responsible, what virtues and values were instilled, how does it remain a consistent —albeit challenged—part of our character to this day?
Relevant questions that cause us to reflect on the individuals God placed in our lives over the years who have in some way or another affected our personal‘foundation’of faith. Whether the opportunity of Catholic Education through parochial schools or Religious Education programs, each provides a footing if you will, a relationship with God through his Son Christ Jesus that remains lifelong (and sometimes, all too dormant).Today especially, and everyday when our Catholic-Christian values are visibly part of our character and lifestyles, we graciously recognize the efforts of our teachers, staff, volunteers, and supporters as they continue to nurture the‘foundation’of faith. Thank you. But as James Dobson observes in his work with Family, Faith & Values, “Children are not casual guests in our home.They have been loaned to us temporarily for the purpose of loving them and instilling a foundation of values on which their future lives will be built.” Whatever the makeup of a family setting, parents remain the primary teachers of their children’s faith and values; a foundation that will hopefully persist and define their character as the years pass. Confirmation, the Sacrament that seals us with the Holy Spirit, is not the culmination of one’s faith learning, but a step along the journey in which we are blessed and challenged within the foundation of our Catholic-Christian faith. So much can be said about this journey of faith that is lifelong; perhaps St. Augustine gives us a valuable consideration as we look at our own foundation of faith and relationship with God: “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.”For me it was my grade school teacher, Mrs. Monson, and my godfather, Uncle Joe (who struggled most of his adult life), reflecting this virtue of faith. Aside from our parents, those who teach us formally and informally of our Catholic-Christian faith often come before us in unassuming ways in this journey of faith. Pausing to reflect back on those who were instrumental in forming our‘foundation’ of faith, truly, is a prayer of gratitude. On this Catechetical Sunday, thank you mothers and fathers for nurturing the gift of faith and virtues in your children—fed by the Eucharist—supported by the integrity of our teachers and staff, volunteers and coordinators. In a world filled with negative distractions, Pope Leo reminded us in his first homily seated on the Chair of Peter:“Young people need role models who live the Gospel consistently, who are examples of joy and hope.”
At the conclusion of our unorthodox gospel teaching, Jesus sums up the lesson,“You cannot serve both God and mammon(money).”As the dishonest steward —about to lose his position—turned and reduced the debts of those who owed the master, hoping for some mercy on his behalf and of those others who owed, so too we are called to value others without regard to their wealth or poverty. As W.C. Fields remarked,“A rich man is nothing but a poor man with money.”Without hesitation and so quickly we begin the season of Autumn this Monday, the 22nd. One of only two days in the calendar year when the Earth's axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun(equinox); thus, equal amounts of daylight and darkness. A contemplative season best described in a letter written by George Eliot (Victorian author and poet), dated, October 1841:“Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love - that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one's very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."God Bless, Fr. Tim