Friar’s Corner: Spreading the light of Christ

Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR

Amos 8:4-7; Psalm 113:1-2 and 4-8; 1 Timothy 2:1-8; Luke 16:1-13 

Two of this Sunday’s readings speak about good and honest business relationships. Psalm 113 speaks about praising God who raises up the poor.

With the difficulties in the world today, I like St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy. It has good instructions in his time, which I believe are even more important for us today. He asked his listeners to pray for several things. First, we need to thank the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for all of their provisions and blessings in our lives. We have many good things to be grateful for in our democratic nation. What other country has so many blessings for most of their citizens? We have our problems, yet we are so blessed.

St. Paul then encourages us to beg and petition God for the outpouring of his merciful graces on everyone yet most especially for those in national leadership, congress, and other major agencies. Then, since we are not a dictatorship, but a collection of fifty states, to pray for all government leadership and agencies who have the responsibility of guiding and providing for just and peaceful care for all of our citizens. We want to do this so that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotions and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who will everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of (God’s) truth.

For there is (only) one God.
There is also one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus,
who gave himself as ransom for all. (1 Timothy 2:2b-6)

We all know there is so much confusion and some attacks from evil forces that we cannot do anything about. We can get worried and frightened about some things, which does not bring us to a peaceful and tranquil life. What we can do is spend more time thanking God and begging him to pour out more of his power, love and guidance for all of us and those who have the responsibility to protect us. This will certainly help us live and a more successful life in our local area and country.

I think we can all agree that much prayer is needed for our major national leadership in dealing with our national difficulties, our allies and those other nations who do not have good and peaceful desires for our nation and our world. May Jesus continue to bless you, your family, ministry, parish, area, state and country.

• Father Bob Hilz
  fbhilz@gmail.com

(© 2019 Father Bob Hilz, TOR)