Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Homily)
January 24, 2016 11:00 am · Sergio Muñoz Fita
Today’s second reading, taken from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, expresses very clearly the true reality of the Church: that although we are many, we are only one body, in which all of its members, each being different from the other, work together for the common good of all. Each of us has received different gifts and talents from God. The Lord made us in this way so that we would collaborate with one another for the perfection of one another. The knowledge I lack obligates me to seek the counsel of someone who can help me. My weakness compels me to seek help from someone who is much stronger than I am. On one hand, my imperfections allow me to open up to others and allow others to open up and to help me. On the other hand, my qualities are given to me so that I may use them for the benefit of those who need them.
I would like to tell you a story that illustrates this point very well.
A long time ago in a carpenter’s workshop not too far away, there was a strange gathering. It was a meeting of all of the carpenter’s tools. They had gathered together to try to work through their issues and differences.
The Hammer was President, but the assembly decided that he had to resign. For what reason? He made too much noise! And he spent a lot of time hitting things. The Hammer admitted his faults, but asked that the Screw also be dismissed. He stated that you had to give the Screw too many turns to even make any use of him.
The Screw likewise admitted his faults, but at the same time asked that the Sander also be excused. He made it clear that the Sander was too rough in his treatment of others and was always creating friction with everyone else.
The Sander agreed, with the condition that the Ruler should be expelled as well, because he always spent his time measuring everyone else according to his own measure, as if he was the only perfect one.
At that moment, the carpenter arrived in the shop. He put on his apron and began to work. He used all of these tools, the Hammer, the Sander, the Ruler and the Screw. Finally, from the simple piece of wood with which he began, emerged a beautiful piece of furniture. When the tools were left alone again, the assembly continued their deliberations. It was then, that the Saw spoke and said: “My friends, it has been pointed out that we all have defects, but the carpenter works with our individual qualities. That’s what makes us valuable. So let’s not think anymore about our bad points, but let us concentrate on the usefulness of our good qualities.”
The assembly then agreed that the Hammer was strong, that the Screw united and gave strength, that the Sander was good at finessing and smoothing out roughness and that the Ruler was precise and exact. They were proud of their strength, proud of what they could accomplish together. They felt well equipped, capable of producing quality furniture.
As you may know, next week will mark the beginning of the 2016 Charity and Development Appeal campaign, the CDA. It offers us the opportunity to bring into reality, the message that the Word of God has offered us today. Just as St. Paul has said, the Church is the body of Christ — and that includes us here at St. Anne in the Diocese of Phoenix.
Through the Church, Jesus continues to give us hope. He continues to proclaim the Good News to the poor, freedom to the captives and sight to the blind. Jesus acts in the world when we allow Him to act: when in our families, we reflect on His love for others; when in our work, we don’t allow ourselves to be beaten by injustice; when through our financial contributions, we allow our brothers and sisters to assist those who need help.
It is true that we can’t do everything. We can’t give food to all the poor families, teach all the children, help all of the pregnant mothers, catechize all those who are coming to the Church — there are so many needs! But our financial support of the CDA makes all of this possible. One of the greatest miracles of the Church is that the work of Christ is done through all of us. In this way, we become instruments for God’s mercy in the world.
As you know, at St. Anne every year we’ve reached our parish CDA goal. This is something that we must feel very proud of. In the past, it has always taken many months for us to reach our goal. This year, for the sake of our parish, I’d like to ask you to prayerfully consider making your donation to the CDA as soon as possible. A long campaign becomes a burden on the parish finances. The sooner we can finish this campaign, the better it is for our community. We have so many needs: evangelization projects, more catechesis and expansion of our current facilities. Achieving our goal in March will be so much better than doing so in April, and doing it in April, much better than waiting until May.
In this Holy Mass and in light of the Word of God that has been proclaimed today, we want to ask the Lord to make us feel and act as members of His Church; to ask that we would sense our brother’s needs whether they are physical or spiritual; that we would come to appreciate the upcoming Charity and Development Appeal as a beautiful opportunity to help those who need it the most.
You already know what Jesus Himself, said to us: “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
And God never allows Himself to be outdone in generosity.
