Co-workers in the Truth

November 15, 2008

Saturday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Beloved, you are faithful in all you do for the brothers, especially for strangers; they have testified to your love before the church. Please help them in a way worthy of God to continue their journey. 3 John 5-6

Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? Will he be slow to answer them? I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? Luke 18:7-8

Piety
Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in God's commands.
Their descendants shall be mighty in the land, generation upright and blessed.
Wealth and riches shall be in their homes; their prosperity shall endure forever.
They shine through the darkness, a light for the upright; they are gracious, merciful, and just. Psalm 112:1-4

Study

Today we get three different views of help. Two show us the character of help which comes from humanity. The other shows perfect loving help which comes from God.

The help offered by dishonest judge is slow to appear for the widow and surfaces for all the wrong reasons. He offers it begrudgingly only because he fears that the widow will come back and take out some measure of vengeance because of his obstinacy. John’s letter is a model for the fund-raising letters we get regularly from charities. He practically begs the people to fulfill their duty to help others. Such a message could come from the Indian reservation in Montana, the mission in Central America, the rural school in Appalachia, and the inner city youth program in the South Bronx. Do we answer these letters any more willingly than we would answer the plea of St. John.

On the other hand, are we not grateful that God’s help is the opposite of the dishonest judge. Fast. Unconditional. Offered without even any asking. Despite this open offer of active love, Jesus is still left to wonder if it will make any difference. Will people be grateful and respond with their faith? Jesus wonders aloud…the question alone already indicates that the Lord knows the answer. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Maybe the psalmist had it wrong when he sang, “Blessed is the Man who fears the Lord.” Who would fear such generous love? Would we not be more inclined to feat the man who is so stingy with his love and justice? Would we not rejoice in the generous and accepting Lord? He knew that those who fear the Lord also “lavishly…give to the poor.”

There is no conditional expression of love from God and those who follow and fear the Lord. The Son of Man’s coming is not some far off distant act. He lives and walks and preaches in the land. The question is not “Will He find faith on earth?” Rather the question is “Does he find faith on earth?” Not “Will He find faith even as small as a mustard seed?” Rather “Did he find faith even as small as a mustard seed?”

With whom are we co-workers? For what are we working – the truth or something less noble? Are we acting more like the dishonest judge or the reluctantly helpful people addressed by John in his letter? Are we ready and willing to be co-workers in the truth with the Lord? Will our effort yield the seeds of faith which he seeks?

Action

To strengthen your journey, get refreshed tonight starting at 7:30 p.m. by joining the Arlington Cursillo for its monthly Ultreya at St. Lawrence parish, 6222 Franconia Rd., Alexandria, VA 22310. Sponsors of candidates from the 117th Men’s Weekend are being asked to bring the new cursillistas. As Mimi Fitzgerald said in her recent message, “It is a good time to rejoice in all that we have to be thankful for, experience group reunion, a witness by one of our community and as always good food.”