A Homily for Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Friday, March 21, 2025
Prince of Peace Catholic Church – 8:00 Mass
Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Psalm 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
Audio Recording
“Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” Matthew 21:42
Many people in the world today are like the tenants in today’s gospel and they are those who risk having the Kingdom of God taken away from them. Why? Because they are guilty of selfishness and greed and they see no need to repent of their sins. They understand the vineyard – the world – to be a place where they only enrich THEMSELVES and those closest to them, caring little about the good of others.
Sadly, this mind-frame is easy to fall into in our own lives. I suspect we’ve all been guilty at one time or another of taking advantage of a situation and becoming indignant when we think we deserve more than we’re getting for our efforts. It’s so easy for us to view life as a series of opportunities to be taken advantage of to “get ahead.” Many people will harm others, either by gossip or other forms of sabotage, so that they can advance their own interests with little regard for who they have to step on to accomplish their goals.
Others, those to whom the Kingdom of God will be given, are those who understand that the central purpose of life is not to simply enrich themselves but to share their resources, time and talent with others out of their love for God. These are the people who are constantly looking for ways that they can be a true blessing to others. It’s the difference between living a generous and caring life, rather than a selfish life that just looks out for “number one.”
Now there are many philanthropists who are also atheists or agnostics. They may do many charitable works, but the intent of their charity is not to glorify God. Their donations do help alleviate suffering in the world, but their reasons for doing so are not so much motivated by love, as they are by other reasons. Perhaps they need the tax write-off or they want to ease a guilty conscience. Maybe they just want to be recognized for their generosity. They are doing good, but with only selfish motivations.
As Christians, caring for the needy, teaching, serving and the like should by motivated first and foremost by our love of Christ. Our lives must make Jesus more known and loved, more understood and followed. In fact, even if we were to feed a multitude of people in poverty, care for those who were sick, or visit those who were lonely, but did it for reasons other than to ultimately share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then our work would not produce the good fruit of building up the Kingdom of Heaven. In that case, we would only be philanthropists, rather than missionaries who spread the love of God.
This is why it’s so important that we generously support initiatives such as our Catholic Ministries Appeal. All of the ministries the CMA supports provide for those in need, but with the underlying goal of proclaiming Christ, of building up the Kingdom of God. The CMA allows us to participate in these worthy endeavors, even if we ourselves are unable to physically take part in them.
Our CMA donations empower our brothers and sisters in Christ to build up the Kingdom with the help of our resources. We are producing good fruit by supporting those who minister on the front lines.
Reflect, today, upon the mission given to you by our Lord to produce an abundance of good fruit for the upbuilding of His Kingdom. Know that this can only be accomplished by prayerfully seeking out the way God is inspiring you to act. Seek to serve His will alone so that all you do will be for God’s glory and the salvation of souls, rather than only to satisfy your own selfish interests.