Homilies | Father Nathan

St Gabriel Catholic Church | Pompano Beach
God Bless You All

Father Nathan Homily | July 28, 2019

Father Nathan | Homily

18th Sunday Ordinary Time (August 04, 2019)

Fr. Nathan

 

Introduction:

“Seek What is Above”

 

This 18th Sunday liturgy invites each one of us to be SMARTER people in handling the worldly resources. We called to “seek what is above” as St. Paul pleads us to do.

Hence, we are invited to store up treasure and riches toward God. Money and wealth doesn’t come alone, it always comes in PACKAGE, like greedy, egoistic, selfishness, arrogance… the list is unending ….hence how we deal with these are explained to us in our liturgy.

Scripture lessons:

The first reading, taken from Ecclesiastes, reminds us the nihilism or the emptiness of life.

 

Wealth does not allow us to look at reality of life…

In the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 90), the Psalmist challenges us to listen to God and allow Him to soften our hearts that we may share our blessings with others.

In the second reading, Paul directs our attention to lasting, Heavenly treasures.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus, telling the parable of the foolish rich man, warns us against all types of greed, because greed takes our life’s focus away from God and away from serving and loving Him in other people. Wealth would claim itself as God.

It would never allow you to think of others.

Let us the some Pronouns. It’s all about ME…I…. MY in Today’s gospel…

What shall I do? I do not have space… to store my harvest…

This is what I shall…

I shall tear down my barns…

There I shall store all my grain…

I shall say to myself, “Now as for youyou have so many good things stored up…

Jesus says God calls the greedy rich man a “FOOL” because the man thought that he was not accountable for the way he used his riches.

The rich man forgot that his wealth had been lent to him by God for sharing with the needy. He allowed the wealth to take control of him. Jesus also warns us that our eternal life does not consist of earthly possessions (Lk 12:15), which we should share to gain eternal life.

Life Messages:

We are invited to share our blessings with others.

The parable of the rich fool gives us a warning as well as an invitation. It reminds us that our possessions are merely lent to us by God, and that we are accountable for their use.

We must be generous in sharing our time, our treasure, and our talents in Christian stewardship.   Even if we are not financially great, we may be blessed with intelligence, good will, singing, lecturing, a sense of humor or the ability to console, encourage, inspire and support and help others.

God expects us to give our thanks to Him for all these blessings by sharing them with others for His glory.

The Old Testament Scriptures are clear about tithing – giving 10% of our income for God’s cause and for helping the needy.  God never allows tithers to regret their generosity.

Greed directs all our energy and attention to fulfilling the self, its objects become our false gods, and they will consume us unless we become rich in the sight of God.

Have a Blessed Week,

Fr. Nathan

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Past Messages from Father Nathan

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 28, 2021

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 28, 2021

Holy Week is also called “Passion Week” begins on Palm Sunday and continues to Easter Sunday. Holy Week provided an opportunity for all the faithful to reflect on their personal sinfulness and their need for Christ and His sacrifice on our behalf.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 21, 2021

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 21, 2021

This is the year of Saint Joseph December 8, 2020, is the 15th anniversary of the Declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. Pope Francis issued an Apostolic Letter entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”).

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 14, 2021

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 14, 2021

What is Holy Mass?
What we do and why do we do this?

Vatican II, bulletin 1324 said the following: – The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life.” 136 ‘the other sacraments and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented towards it.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 7, 2021

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | March 7, 2021

What is the Sacrament of Confession? Why do we need confession? What are the benefits of going to confession? The Sacrament of Confession is one of the most unique and beautiful aspects of Catholicism. Jesus Christ, in His abundant love and mercy, established the Sacrament of Confession so that we as sinners can obtain forgiveness for our sins and reconcile with God, our neighbors, and the Church.

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | February 28, 2021

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | February 28, 2021

The Mysteries of our Faith. As the Lenten Season has started please make all the efforts possible to participate in the liturgy and other pious activities of the church. These are the ways and means we are able to understand the mystery of Christ…

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From The Desk Of Father Nathan | February 21, 2021

From The Desk Of Father Nathan | February 21, 2021

We have just started the Lenten season. It’s one of the most precious and holiest seasons of the year… Let us try to know Christ and let us try to understand him. Please, make an effort to talk to Him and with Him through the readings of the scripture, praying the rosary as a family,

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