The first question on your handout is this: What kind of king? St. Paul tells us in his letter to the Philippians: Jesus emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness… (Philippians 2:7, NAB)

Jesus was not a king by worldly standards, seeking fame and riches and power, trying to build up an empire to give glory to himself. Jesus emptied himself, became like a slave, died on a cross out of love for sinful humanity. Many years ago, when I was first ordained, a friend of mine gave me as a gift this handcrafted Peruvian cross (hold up cross for all to see). It is quite interesting – and in some ways, quite ugly – because the cross and crucifixion were ugly and painful, a form of torture. Today, we decorate our churches with crosses; we wear them around our necks or hang them in our cars; we forget what crucifixion was really like. The horror of what Jesus endured is often lost and forgotten. Last Lent, did anyone see Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”? That movie showed the horror of crucifixion. Imagine instead of placing crosses in our churches, we instead hung up a picture of the electric chair. Jesus was no ordinary king. No ordinary king would willingly endure crucifixion for love of his people.

I remember my first Mass as a priest. I used this cross as a prop for my homily. I was very young and inexperienced. As I was preaching, this woman came running from the congregation and started reaching for the cross, screaming, “Give it to me! Give it to me!” At the time, I didn’t know what to do. Since then, I’ve learned that there are some crazy people in every church, just like this poor lady, reaching for the cross, who was mentally ill. Maybe there are a few crazy folks here at Mass today – don’t worry! The message of the cross and the message of this feast of Christ the King is that God loves us, no matter what, even in our craziness.

The second question on your handout: What kind of kingdom? Listen to some of the words of Jesus:

"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder….' But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! – Matthew 5:21-22 (NLT)

"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart. – Mt 5:27-28

"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.' But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too. – Matthew 5:38-39 (NLT)

"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Love your neighbor' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! – Matthew 5:43-44 (NLT)

The values of the Kingdom of God is upside down from the values of the Kingdoms of this world. Close your eyes. Imagine for a moment God’s kingdom – no war, no violence, no injustice or discrimination. Peace. Everyone is brother and sister to one another. No hatred. No vengeance.

He will settle disputes among the nations, among the great powers near and far. They will hammer their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will never again go to war, never prepare for battle again. – Micah 4:3 (Today’s English Version)

Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them. -- Isaiah 11:6 (TEV)

The Lord Almighty will prepare a banquet for all the nations of the world—a banquet of the richest food and the finest wine. Here he will suddenly remove the cloud of sorrow that has been hanging over all the nations. The Sovereign Lord will destroy death forever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone's eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world… When it happens, everyone will say, "He is our God! We have put our trust in him, and he has rescued us. He is the Lord! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us." – Is 25:6-9

On your sheets, it says there are two kinds of power: Coercive power, where force is used to compel others to do what we want; and persuasive power – love – where people choose to follow us and imitate us because of the compelling attractiveness of our message and our lifestyle.

Which kind of power does the world use? Right. Coercive power. Bombs, missiles, police, soldiers – we impose and coerce with force. That’s often why there are wars and conflicts.

What kind of power does Jesus use? Right. Persuasive power. Jesus commanded no armies. He was not head of state. His power was the power of love, the power of persuasion, the power of changed hearts and changed lives.

Which kind of power, ultimately, is more effective? People debate this issue. But let me just point out: Two thousand years after Jesus walked on the earth, his persuasive power of love still commands billions of followers, it still moves and changes hearts and lives, it still inspires and elevates our spirit. After two thousand years ago, the forces of coercive power have come and gone – the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Ottoman Empire, the Spanish conquistadors, the British Empire. All have vanished. Which kind of power really has been more effective?

But we still have more to do. The Kingdom of God has not yet arrived, at least not in its fullness. Last week, I came across some frightening statistics about children in the U.S. Every single day in our country, three children die from child abuse, nine are murdered, 13 die from guns, 30 are wounded by guns, 101 babies die before their first birthday, 202 children are arrested every day for drug abuse, 248 children are arrested every day for violent crimes, 427 are arrested for alcohol abuse or drunken driving, 2,781 teens get pregnant every day, 1,115 teens have abortions each day, 1,234 children run away from home, 2,860 see their parents get divorced, 3,325 babies are born to unwed mothers (25 percent of America’s children live without fathers), 10,988 public school children are suspended from school every day, 100,000 children are homeless, 1,200,000 latchkey children come home to a house where there is a gun – the list could go on and on! (Statistics from the Children’s Defense Fund)

What’s the answer? The third question on your sheet is the all-important one: Is Christ King? Personally and communally? Both are important. The starting point is our own spiritual conversion, making Jesus king of our lives. But then we need to move forward, not stay stuck there, start to spread God’s love throughout the world so that Christ is king in our families, in our neighborhoods, in our cities and states, in our nation, in our world.

First, making Christ king of our lives, personally. Leo Tolstoy, the famous Russian novelist, once said, “Everyone wants to change the world, but nobody wants to change themselves.” If Christ is to be King, it starts with us. And it is about surrender – allowing God to take charge. The famous Supreme Court chief justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes, when he turned 90 years old, was asked by a reporter, “What is the secret of your great success.” He replied, very wisely, “I learned, very early on in life, that I am not God.”

But that is not always an easy lesson to learn. Many years ago, when I was still in college, I traveled with a church youth group to Baja California in Mexico for a summer service project, to dig septic tanks for an orphanage. When we arrived, the directors of the orphanage had given each of the children T-shirts that said, “Jesús es Rey -- Jesus is King.” But there was a problem. About a half dozen of the kids were named Jesús – and they were fighting with each other over who was king! In fact, for the next year, the directors of the orphanage decided to print the T-shirts differently, to say, “Cristo es Rey – Christ is King!” – just to stop the competition. You see, it is human nature to want to be in control, to be in charge, to be king of the mountain. But God says, “Surrender! Let go of control! Let me take charge of your life and be king.”

That’s what we see in our gospel today – the story of the two thieves. One turns his life over to Jesus, but the other doesn’t. We all face the same choice – let Jesus in as King, or lock him out.

Next, we need to work to make Jesus Christ king in our community, in our world. This means we need to become kingdom people. There are two steps: First, as I just mentioned, inviting Jesus to take charge of your life; but then, second, following God’s roadmap, doing what God says, becoming kingdom people.

We’re at the end of the year, liturgically. Today, the Feast of Christ the King, is the last Sunday of the church year. Next Sunday, we begin Advent and a new church year. So this is a perfect time to do our own individual end-of-the-year review – how have we allowed Jesus to be king of our lives? – and to make some “New Year’s” Resolutions for the upcoming year, turning more and more to God in our lives in the upcoming weeks and months.

A few days ago, I went to see an interesting new movie, entitled “The Motorcycle Diaries.” It’s about the life of Che Guevara, the young Latin American revolutionary in the 1950s. It’s the story of how Che Guevara grew up in Argentina, a rich kid, sort of like a kid born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He has just completed medical school, and has a bright future ahead of him. But he and a friend decide to hop on a motorcycle and tour throughout Latin America. On the trip, Che begins to have a conversion. For the first time, he is exposed to the plight of the poor and the oppressed. He witnesses the unjust treatment of the indigenous at the hands of the rich and powerful. He begins to want to change the world and make it better.

There is one powerful scene where Che and his motorcycle buddy stop to work a few months at a leper colony on the Amazon River, in the jungles of Peru. The lepers live on one side of the river, the doctors on the other. A group of nuns cooks and provides for the lepers and the doctors. But there is this discrimination, this separation, this disconnect – lepers on one side of the river, caretakers on the other. The nuns prepare the meals, but they have one rule – you must go to Mass, or you don’t get to eat. Che spends an entire day helping the lepers, but he doesn’t go to Mass. So when it comes time for dinner, Mother Superior refuses to serve him. The scene challenges us to ask: What is really more important to God? Going to Mass, praying, following the rules and rituals of our faith? Or reaching out to the poor and needy in our midst? Unlike the movie, I would argue that both are necessary. It does not good to simply go to Mass, to be pious, unless we also go out and start to put our faith into practice by building God’s Kingdom. But we need spiritual strength and nourishment to do God’s will, so we need to go to Mass so that we can be strengthened for the task God has given to us.

Look on your handout. What is God’s road map?

First, we need to pray and worship. We need spiritual habits and disciplines to be strong. Here at Mass today, we have a young man, Adam, who is a boxer. He just came back from Las Vegas, where he won the bantam weight title. But Adam, some questions: Does it take discipline and training and hard work and fortitude and perseverance to be a good boxer? Do you need to get up early to train? Do you think it takes the same sort of discipline and perseverance and good habits to be a follower of Jesus? Of course!

No. 2 – grow. Get in a small group. Go to some of our retreats. Don’t stagnate!

These first two steps are the preparation. If we don’t develop strong spiritual habits, if we aren’t growing spiritually, we will never be able to spread God’s Kingdom. We need to feed ourselves first, to be strong spiritually ourselves, before we can feed others. Have you ever been on an airplane? At the start of the flight, the stewardess explains safety procedures. “In case of a loss of cabin pressure, oxygen masks will descend… First, put the oxygen mask over your own face, then place an oxygen mask over the face of any small children…” First, yourself – then the children!

No. 3 and No. 4 are the action steps. Give. Be generous. Use your time, talent and treasure for the glory of God. Go out, be a witness for Jesus – to family, friends, neighbors, at work, at school, wherever you go, 24-7, all the time. Your very identity, if you are a true follower of Jesus, is to be a witness and a missionary for Jesus Christ in the world, to be a Kingdom builder.

Look at the cartoon, from Zits. This is one of my favorite cartoons. Read it. This teenager does not care about the world! For him, the entire universe is a disappointment! Now that may be the attitude of teenagers from time to time – and you who are parents of teenagers can relate, I am sure! – but this cannot be the attitude of us Christians!

Look at the next two verses on your handout. In John’s gospel, Jesus is praying to His Father and he says: In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world. –- John 17:18 (Message)

You see, God gives us a mission. We’re not here on this earth just to take up space or to use up the oxygen and other resources of our planet!

What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world." – Acts 1:8 (Message)

God is with us and will help us. We are not alone! That’s why Jesus founded a church, so that we would have partners. But catch the deeper meaning of this verse – we are to be witnesses, but where? First, Jerusalem! Our own neighborhood. Our own family and friends. Our own back yard. Then? Judea and Samaria – our community, our co-workers. Maybe we need to go beyond our own comfort zone and reach out and start to know people that aren’t just in our circle of friends, maybe even people from a different race or culture or language, or maybe the older folks here spending more time with the teenagers, getting to know their culture. Finally, “to the ends of the world” – world Christians, concerned about the needs of people everywhere, because all people are God’s children. To God, the people of the United States are not more important than the people of Iraq or Afghanistan – God loves all people, and wants all people to be part of his family.

Here are just some ways we can start to build God’s Kingdom. I brought with me today a grocery cart. Last week, we had a canned food drive to replenish the supply of items for our parish food pantry. It is open everyday to help provide food for people in need. To be honest, we had an entire U Haul truck full of food last week, and I thought we would never find a way to unload it – until a bunch of our parish members, teens and children and older people, started to show up and formed an assembly line. The truck was unloaded in about an hour! And it was fun, too! That is the power of working together, not just by ourselves! Starting next Sunday, I am going to leave this grocery cart at the entrance to church. Families can start to bring canned goods and even toys for needy children for Christmas, and leave those items in this cart – and that is one way we can start to build the Kingdom of God right here in our own community.

Another way: Many of you know that on Monday nights, a small team of us visit the juvenile prison. We need more helpers. That’s a way to build God’s Kingdom. Call me if you want to sign up!

I also brought with me this map. It is a map of the world. After Masses this weekend, I am going to put it up at the entrance of church. Maria and Veronica in our front office made the map. Give them an applause! Every Sunday, this church has given away 10 percent of every Sunday’s collection to help the poor. That’s about $40,000 a year. This map shows some of the places that we help – India, Bangladesh, Africa, Haiti, Mexico, other places in Latin America, a poor inner city high school in Chicago.

Listen to this letter, written to me about a month ago from a priest who is a missionary in Bangladesh, which is right next to India and is maybe the poorest country on earth:

I am sending this letter to all of you who were with me in Cascade. I need some help. You all know that I have been back in Bangladesh for 10 years, since August 1994. Almost 9 of those years have been in this parish. My parish is over 60 miles from end to end. Almost all of our parishioners are tribals and daily workers in the vast tea estates in this area. Beside all the regular pastoral work (we have had over 2000 baptisms in my time here), we are trying to see to the education of the as many kids as possible. They have no access to education except through our efforts. We also are trying to take care of the sick. Again, there is no other medical care available. We live by begging, which is a hard thing for me personally to do. We have gotten by, but this year’s monsoon season has been terrible. What is overwhelming us now are the number of sick people – malaria, typhoid, jaundice, TB, dysentery, all of this in some ways caused by the awful weather we have had. Trying to deal with the huge number of sick has exhausted our resources and still they are coming. … We need help very much. This has been an extraordinary year for sickness and we can’t cope, but we have to. Any and everything will be very welcome and acknowledged. It will help save people’s lives. – Bruce, I hope you are well. My best to the others there. I am doing fine, just getting to be an old guy. Please pray for me. –Father Frank

We were able to use the 10 percent one Sunday and sent Fr. Frank almost $1,000. Every little bit helps, and we are working to become World Christians and Kingdom people.

Look at the last verse on your handout. David served God's purposes in his own time… – Acts 13:36 (Today’s English Version)

In our first reading today, we heard part of the story of how the people named David as their human king. But David was successful as king only because he allowed God to be his real king – he served God’s purposes in his own time. We are called to do the same – to serve God’s purposes, not our own; and in our time, which is different from David’s time, for every generation is different from those that have gone before, and needs and circumstances change.

We are called to be a kingdom people who go out to our own Jerusalem, our own Samarias and Judeas, and to the ends of the world. It begins by allowing Jesus to be king in here, in each of us and in our hearts.

Let’s close by listening to a song – not a typical church song, but it shows how the message of Jesus transcends cultures and all the artificial barriers of race and nation. This is a song our young people may enjoy. It’s a rap song, hip hop – by P. Diddy, a famous rap musician who has had his own personal ups and downs, his own transformation and conversion. This song talks a bit about his conversion, and his coming back to trusting in Jesus as King of his life. The song is entitled, “Best Friend,” and is about his friendship with the Lord. Listen, and the words are on your handout so you can follow along:

BEST FRIEND, by P. Diddy
I've seen a lot of things in my life, A lot of ups and downs, Made a lot of mistakes, No matter what, you've always been by my side, You've always been my best friend, You're the love of my life (Oh), You're everything to me (Oh), You never left my side (You're my best friend), I love you so much (Yes, you are), You're my best friend. Since the beginning of time, All you did was bless men. Too young to understand but now you my best friend. How could they doubt you, never think about you, Don't they know nothing's possible without you. Faith without fear that's how they raised me, Words of man kill but never phase me, Grateful for wisdom that you gave me, But still I'm like, dear God I wonder, could you save me? Too much sinning, gotta be more than plush living, Gotta be more than grabbing nines to buck tin in , Gotta be more than just to lust women, Gotta be more than platinum Rolexes, 600's and crushed linen. Praise your name, I know some of them hate their due, Judgment day, don't they know they can't escape your crew, I'm just trying to live right and pray you take me through, And with this song I dedicate to you, my Lord. Lord, you mean the world to me, Before I was born you chose me, You always hear me when I call, Even catch me when I'm falling, You're the closest one to me, I surrender all to thee, I want the whole wide world to see, That we've always been and we'll always be best friends. Sometimes I reminisce and wonder how I made it this far. Because of you, I'm me, so you the real star. Your hindsight, the time's right to get my mind tight. Then give it to you and let it shine bright. My best friend, only know how to teach the truth. Plant the seeds of life and let them eat the fruit. Can't you see that He spread love for you. Shed blood for you, cry for and die for you. Willies with mac millies know how you get down. We know the drama you bring whenever you hit town. Just remember when you pray, God is love. Gracious, merciful, forgive even the hardest thugs. Life as we know it, it all begins with Him. Life as we know it, it all ends with Him. If I was you I would never try to pretend with Him. He might spaz and blow it, I'm best friends with him. Been two and a half years since my man Big passed. Been two and a half years since my world crashed. I needed help, God gave me the power. Gave me the strength to go face to face with my darkest hour. Looked me in the eyes and ask "What you doing unhappy?" "Don't you know why I'm here?" and started shooting at me. Back to the wall, is my faith gonna play out. Never wavered once, gave me no way out. Your time to die, don't even stress the date. You're coming with me, your soul I'm next to take. I told him "I'm too much blessed with faith." "And living for Christ" and then he said "Manifest the great" All of a sudden, what I'm remembering. Ground started to shake, everything trembling. The power of the truth was shooting through my Timberlands. Here was my Lord Jesus Christ, my best friend again, come on. You mean everything to me. You've been with me from day one. Even when I thought nobody was there, You were there. You're my best friend. I love you like no other. There is no feeling like this in the world. If you can relate to what I'm feeling, put your hands in the air for me. Let me see you. No, matter of fact, clap your hands for me. Clap your hands, come on. Thank you, Jesus. You always hear me when I'm calling, always catch me when I fall, yeah. I surrender all to thee. I want the whole world to see that you've always been, you'll always be, my best friend. I love you Jesus. Thank you, forgive me for my trespasses, as I forgive those who trespass against me. Thank you.

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C
November 18, 2007

Building Our New Church Together: Part 4 – Celebration!

Welcome, everyone! By now, most all of you probably know that we are in the midst of a fundraising campaign for our new church. The campaign is entitled “Building Our New Church Together.” An artist rendition of the proposed new church is up on the screen. I’ve been preaching on the campaign for four weeks now, and today, we are in the final week, Week 4, in our series on this topic.

I think everyone is aware of the huge need for this new church. Just two days ago, a front page article in The Desert Sun talked about the projected growth in the Coachella Valley in the next 25 years. Coachella is projected to become the largest city in the Valley, with a population of more than 120,000 people. This church that we are in now will not serve 120,000 people. It doesn’t serve the population we have now! So we are building for the future, anticipating and planning and preparing for the future, being good stewards of what the Lord has given to us!

So let’s review:

I preached on Step 1 three weeks ago. What is it? Right! Prayer. This is the first and most essential step. “Unless the Lord build the house, in vain do the laborers labor.” This is God’s project, not mine, not yours. We’re just partnering with the Lord, but He’s in charge. It’s His new Temple.

Step 2 is discernment, listening. Discernment goes hand in hand with prayer. I trust that in this last month, all of us have been praying and discerning, listening to God, asking Him to God and lead each and every one of us into wisdom and insight. What is God asking me to contribute to this project? How is God calling me to do my part.

Step 3 is giving. This is no easy project. It’s going to cost $9 million altogether. In this campaign, we’re trying to raise up to $6 million so we can get started. That’s a lot of money for a relatively poor community. But with God, nothing is impossible! We have a God of miracles, especially when we are praying, when we are discerning, when we are open and listening to the Lord, when we are grateful and generous with what God has given to us. This is a historical opportunity. We get to participate with the Lord in making history here in Coachella, for the Lord’s glory. Some of our parents and grandparents had that opportunity back in 1971, when they sacrificed and were generous to build this church. We are the beneficiaries of their generosity. And now, we are blessed by God to do our part, to return the favor, for our children and our grandchildren and great-grandchildren – and, most of all, for the Lord. Almost certainly, this opportunity to be a part of history will not pass our way again. It’s not every day, or every year, or even every decade that one is blessed with an opportunity to help build a Temple for God!

So today, our last step is Commitment. This is Commitment Sunday, when we ask everyone – every single family in our parish – to fill out a pledge card, to make a three-year commitment and a promise to God, to help with this project and to make it a reality. In just a few moments, we’re going to pass out commitment cards and we’re going to ask each and every family here to fill it out, and to make a step of faith, and to come forward and place that card in this basket here in front, as our offering to God.

Step 4 is Celebration, because this ought to be a joyous occasion for all of us. That’s why the church is decorated so festively with balloons and ribbons. That’s why we have a basket that looks like a wedding cake – for weddings are festive occasions, and celebrate commitment. That’s why we have a fiesta going on all day today outside, free for everyone.

How many here like fiestas? Did you know that Jesus, too, was a “party animal”? That’s one of the reasons he made the Pharisees so angry – he was going to all the parties, the wedding feasts, the birthday celebrations, and especially the parties of “sinners” and “outcasts.” He was changing water into wine. He was healing people, and then, they celebrated. Jesus loved a good party. We Christians also are called to be people full of joy, full of life! Saint Augustine once said, “A Christian ought to be an alleluia from head to foot!” Saint Irenaeus once said, “The glory of God is a person fully alive!” Martin Luther, the famous Protestant reformer, once said, “If I knew the world would end tomorrow, I would plant a tree today.” As Christians, we are called to be people of hope, of joy, of life! We have been blessed with the Good News of Jesus, and now have the privilege and the honor to share it with others! In Mexico, there is a saying: “Un cristiano triste es un triste cristiano” – or, roughly translated, “A sad Christian is a sad excuse for a Christian.”

Look at what Jesus says in the Bible, in John’s Gospel. Let’s read it together: "I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature.” - John 15:11 (Msg) And then, in the next chapter: Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. - John 16:24 (NLT)

Saint Paul echoes this same message of Jesus in his letter to the Romans, Chapter 8: We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Did you know this verse often is misunderstood? Lots of Christians do not really understand what real Christian joy is. That’s because we rip verses like these out of the Bible, out of context, paste them onto greeting cards and sell them as a way to comfort people. Many Christians think Christian joy, Christian happiness is just like a magic pill or an inoculation to protect us from harm and pain and suffering – if I go to church, if I pray, if I obey the Ten Commandments, then somehow, God will protect me from harm’s way and make my life easier and more pain free. Wrong! Jesus himself suffered on the cross. Almost all the disciples suffered painful martyr’s deaths. Christians experience the same pain, the same injustices, the same hurts as everyone else – but there is a difference: Jesus is with us in the pain, in the hurt, in the suffering; and we have fellow believers, brothers and sisters in Christ, which is the Body of Christ, the Church, at our side, to help pick us up and steady us when we stumble and fall. “We know that ALL THINGS work for good” – you see, this means there is “bad” out there, and we will experience it from time to time, but the Lord will work it for the good, transform it, if we but let him. And there is a condition: “for those who love him, who are called according to his purpose.”

Did you know? You are no accident. We are not mere coincidences. God has a plan, a purpose for each of our lives. But it is up to us whether we will listen to God, follow him, obey him, complete His purpose for our lives instead of just living for ourselves and for our own plans and purposes. Last week, I read about a lady in San Diego, Adel Dominguez. She just recently died. She was 114 years old – the oldest living American. And shortly before she died, a reporter asked her, “To what do you attribute your longevity, your long life?” I love her response. She said: “I give all the credit to God. I know God has a purpose and a plan for my life. And I knew I wasn’t going to die until He was through with me.”

Paul goes on. Let’s read further: …For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son... Lots of big words here, but they’re not hard to unpack. God “foreknew us,” “predestined us,” had a plan and a purpose for our life, even before we were born – and that plan, that purpose is for us to grow more and more like Jesus, more and more into the image of God’s Son – more loving, more compassionate, more merciful, more forgiving, more generous.

And those he predestined he also called… You see, God speaks to all of us, calls all of us. But are we listening?

… and those he called he also justified… That means he forgives us when we sin and make mistakes in our life.

…and those he justified he also glorified…That’s the joy. God glorifies us, gives us the inheritance, the keys to His Kingdom, makes us His children, His adopted sons and daughters!

Did you hear clearly Jesus’ words in our gospel today? He spoke of signs of the end times – famines, wars, plagues, earthquakes, terrible sights in the sky. He warned of many false prophets who would falsely predict the end of the world and proclaim themselves to be the messiah. He told the disciples they would suffer. Some would be thrown into prison. Some would be killed. Parents, brothers and sisters, other family members would even turn on them and turn them in to the Jewish authorities for punishment! But don’t lose heart! Be filled with joy! This is an opportunity to witness for Jesus, and He will even give you the words that you need to speak! Not a hair on your head will be destroyed! But you must persevere, stick with it, in order to save your life! We, too, have this marvelous opportunity to witness for the Lord by building a new Temple, a new house for God here in Coachella.

Saint Paul concludes: What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? … What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? … No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8: 28-31, 35, 37-39 (NAB) You see, Saint Paul doesn’t promise a life free of pain and suffering – for indeed, there will be anguish, distress, persecution, famine, peril, the sword – but not of this is more powerful than God’s love. God is victorious. God conquers overwhelmingly. None of these obstacles will ever separate us from the Lord, for His love for us. And that, my friends, is the real fire of Christian joy – an inner peace, an inner tranquility in the very depths of our souls, planted there by God. Nothing can rob us of that joy! No storm, no hurricane, no fire, no earthquake, no persecution or sickness or calamity – nothing!

So the question is this: How will I choose to live?

Lots of people are just living for themselves. Some are stuck at the survival level, always worried about food, clothes, rent, paying the bills. But that’s not really living. That’s just existing. Others are stuck at the “success” level – living selfishly for just themselves and their family, a bigger house, a fancier car, nicer clothes, more rest and vacation, fame and success, climbing the ladder at work. God wants us to live at the level of significance – using our lives for His plan and purpose, contributing back to the world, making a difference beyond ourselves by imitating Jesus and living for others, not just for me, me, me.

Here are three secrets for living an abundant, significant, joy-filled life. First, be thankful. Next week, we celebrate Thanksgiving. But Thanksgiving and giving thanks to the Lord ought not to be a once-a-year affair. It ought to be every day, because God has blessed us with many, many riches and blessings. Second, live joyfully. Don’t pout or cry in your tears. Now this doesn’t mean putting on a false sort of “happy face” and pretending to be happy all the time. Surely there are times for tears, for mourning, for sadness. But let the joy and the peace of God fill your hearts, even in the difficult moments and trials of life. Finally, be generous. Be a person of sacrifices and gives for others, not just for yourself. Building this new church is going to take all three of these things: thanksgiving, joy, and great sacrifice and generosity.

I’ve been impressed by the great generosity and joy of some of the members of our church. Last week, one of our members – a “young man” like me, in his 50s – came up and said, “Father, I’m not a rich man. I’ve worked my whole life in the fields, picking grapes and dates. I work hard, seven days a week, but I never, ever miss Mass. I don’t have a lot to give, but many years back, I bought a time share in a condominium in Ixtapa, a beach in Mexico. You can have it, sell if for the new church.” And he gave us the deed to the condominium – worth maybe $10,000 or $15,000. But that’s not all. Then he pulled out his credit card and said, “Father, also, I want to give $30 a week for the next three years on my credit card for the new church.” A huge sacrifice! Great generosity! A few months ago, another family here in this parish came up to me. They had just sold a house in Mexico and they handed me a check for 10 percent of the sale – for our new church. Look at the posters some of our children have made, to show their love for this church! You see, church is not a building. It’s us, the people of God. But we need buildings to help us serve the needs of our growing community. Last week, our Youth put together a short PowerPoint presentation about what they like about our church. Let’s watch it as our ushers pass out pledge cards (but please, do not fill out the pledge cards yet – wait for instructions! Thanks!)

(Watch 3½ minute PowerPoint presentation)

As I’ve said, we need everyone to fill out a pledge card. If everyone does his or her part, this project will be successful. But if some hold back and let others do it, we won’t be successful. This is the biggest project we’ve undertaken as a church since 1971, and it will require generosity and sacrifice by everyone. But God will work this miracle, if we are generous and if we are willing to sacrifice with great joy and enthusiasm in our hearts. The reason we need pledge cards, not just donations, is because the diocese will help us get a loan for the new construction, if we have a certain amount of money in pledges and donations, so it is very important that every family fill out a pledge card.

First, fill out the top part – name, address, phone number. On the screen is an example:

Pedro Infante
22222 Calle Cantinflas
Coachella, CA 92236
(333) 333-3333 or cell (444) 444-4444

Next, fill out the amount, as shown – a 3-year total and then, broken down, per year. So a $3,000 gift altogether is $1,000 each year for three years. You can choose to pay weekly, monthly, four times a year or yearly. You can even pay by credit card, Visa or Mastercard, by giving us your credit card number, name and expiration date. Everyone who makes a pledge will also receive these yellow envelopes by mail, and they also are available at the back of church, and we will use these yellow envelopes for the next three years as a way to distinguish the offerings for the new church from regular church offerings, which will continue to be in the blue envelopes.

On the screen is a chart to help you calculate the amounts. (Show giving chart to help people fill out the dollar amounts on the pledge cards) Remember, even a small amount goes a long way over time. Just $3 a day, less than the price of a soda and hamburger, adds up to more than $3,000 in three years! Of course, all of us have been praying and discerning about this for more than a month, so hopefully, we’re all ready to fill these cards out today. But please take your time to fill them out correctly.

Everyone can participate. We are asking equal sacrifices, not equal gifts. Some people own land, businesses, have savings, and can give more – maybe even $100,000 or $50,000. Others have less financially, but everyone can pray and everyone can probably give up a soda pop a day, $1 a day, which is more than $1,000 in 3 years, or save up their coins, or get some “padrinos” or other friends, family and co-workers to chip in. Lots of us are in the middle – not rich, but not poor, either – and for us, it will mean sacrificing some of the little extras, the luxuries that we don’t really need – going out to eat as much, or to the movies, or to Starbuck’s, or beer or cigarettes or ice cream or candy; or donating a tax refund; or getting rid of HBO and some premium TV channels; or postponing some purchases of clothes, a new TV, jewelry, CDs, a new stereo, a new car; or going to the casino less; or spending less on golf or on a vacation; or maybe selling off something we don’t need, like a car we aren’t using. Everyone can participate somehow – even our kids, even our teenagers – everyone!

Now, I want everyone to come up, together as a family – moms and dads and children, and together, place your pledge card into the basket as a sacred, holy offering and sacrifice to God. It is a step of trust, a step of gratitude to God for His many blessings, a step in joy because we are loving and serving God, because we are participating in making history here in Coachella.

And finally, we will all extend hands over the basket and pray for the Lord to build His new house in Coachella, for the success of this project, for us to always have generous hearts and for the Lord to bless our generosity, for us to be filled with his joy and his life … Pray over basket…

32nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C
November 11, 2007

Building Our New Church Together:
Step 3 – Giving!

Welcome, everybody! We’re in week three of a four part series entitled “Building Our New Church Together!” By now, most of you know that we’re in the middle of a campaign to raise money to build a new church. Artist renderings of the new church and the logo for the campaign are up on the screen for you to see. I really like the name of the campaign – “Building OUR church” – it’s not my church, not the diocese’s church, not a church being built by just the leaders in our community, but this new church and this new church campaign belongs to ALL of us, as a family, and for not just ourselves, but also, for our children and grandchildren. This is a historic moment for our community – one that we won’t likely see again in our lifetime – an opportunity to build something that will last for 40, 50, maybe 100 years or more. And we will have the privilege of saying, to our children and grandchildren, that we were a part of it. But to be successful, it will require all of us to do our part, “Building OUR Church TOGETHER!”

Let’s review. Two weeks ago, we talked about Step 1. Anybody remember what it was? Right! PRAYER. This project will only be successful if God is the Master Builder, not us. It will only be successful if all of us are fervently praying for its success.

Last week, I spoke about Step 2. Anyone remember that step? Right! DISCERNMENT – LISTENING. We need to be listening to the Lord, each and everyone of us – listening to how God wants us to contribute and to be a part of this historic project.

Step 3 is today. Anyone know what it is? Right! GIVING. And then, next Sunday, I will speak on Step 4: CELEBRATION! God wants to bless us and God wants to bless this church, when we are faithful. God wants us to be fully alive Christians, filled with His power, filled with His Spirit, celebrating life so that our enthusiasm and our excitement for the Lord is contagious and that we witness for the Lord, everywhere we go.

So today, we are going to talk about Step 3, Giving. And I’m going to offer you today three challenges. The first challenge is to be generous – lavishly generous, giving not the leftovers but the first fruits of what we have to the Lord. Jesus was generous to us. He died for us, gave His life for our salvation. And He asks us to imitate Him and to be generous in turn.

I want to tell you a story, told to me last week by Father Jaime. Most of us have heard the parable in our gospel today about the seven husbands who died, and their wife. But we don’t know the whole story. However, last week, Father Jaime told me the rest of the story, and he gave me permission to share it with you, if you promise to keep it a secret and not tell anyone else. Deal? OK, here goes. Oh, and before we start, let’s ask forgiveness from Saint Luke for taking some liberty with his gospel!

Lots of people have speculated as to why the seven brothers all died. Some say it was just a chain of bad luck. Others say the brothers got what they deserved because of the way they lived. Still others blame the wife, saying she killed her husbands. The real story, Father Jaime told me, is about generosity and giving. Jesus told his disciples that when we are generous, then we receive, but when we are stingy, we lose what has been given to us.

The story begins with the wife, whose name is Dulce, and her first husband, Lucio, who was the oldest brother. One day, Dulce said to her new husband, “Honey, we must make a three-year pledge to help raise money for a new church in Coachella.” Lucio responded angrily, “Are you crazy? I never go to Mass. Why should I give of my hard-earned money to the church?” A few days later, Lucio keeled over at work, while laboring for his hard-earned money, and he died.

Next came José. He married Dulce as a way to respect the memory of his dead brother, and because it was the tradition of his people. One night while eating, Dulce – who was a very faithful follower of Jesus – said to her new husband, Jose, “Honey, Father at church asked us to make a pledge for three years to help in building a new church in Coachella.” José immediately became very tense. “Woman,” he said, “my money barely pays all the bills. Tell those priests to ask rich people for the money, not me!” It should be noted that José wasn’t too poor to not go out to the bars every Friday and Saturday night, and to spend all day Sundays drinking beer and watching soccer. Neighbors say poor José died instantly from a stray bullet fired during a fight at a bar on Harrison Street.

It should be noted that José was picked up by a “train” and taken to station with a big sign that said, “Why am I here?” At the train station, he ran into his brother Lucio, who asked, “What are you doing here?” José replied, “It’s all your wife Dulce’s fault!”

Next up was Jorge. Dulce liked him better than the other two, because he was nicer to her. But he still had a temper. One day shortly after their marriage, Dulce said to him, “Honey, my love, let’s make a donation to help build that new church here in Coachella.” This time, Dulce was careful not to mention that it was a three-year commitment! Jorge looked at his wife for a few moments, then said in a stern voice, “I don’t have money for that! I want to buy new rims for my car! Don’t bring up the topic again.” Jorge loved his car, but one day shortly after this, he was racing down the street in the car when he crashed and died.

The same happened for the next three brothers – Bruce, John and Jaime. Bruce used this as his excuse: “How will I ever buy my new pickup if I give to that church?” John said, “I’ll give to the church, but only if I win the jackpot at the casino.” Jaime used this as his excuse: “I have family in Mexico and need to save to visit them, so there’s no extra money for that new church.” The three gave nothing to God. Too bad! One by one, the same thing happened to each of them… they each died!

The six brothers all ended up at the same train station, commiserating and consoling one another. They were angry, but no longer at Dulce. Rather, it was the fault of THOSE priests who kept asking people to help pay for THEIR church! They decided that when the train arrived to take them to heaven’s gate, they would lodge a complaint with Saint Peter against THOSE priests!

Now it was Dulce’s last chance – with the youngest brother, Hermenegildo. He was a nice young man, most the time, but with a ferocious temper. By now, Dulce realized she could not risk losing another husband by mentioning the new church, so she stayed silent and said nothing. But of course, that’s when fate intervened. One day, the phone rang while Hermenegildo was home alone. Dulce was at work. The phone call was from the church in Coachella, asking for a three year pledge to help build a new church. Poor Dulce! Neighbors say she came home from work that day and found her “Hermi” dead in bed. He apparently had died of a heart attack after losing his temper and yelling at the church secretary who had phoned him for a donation!

Dulce decided not to remarry after that. In any case, she had run out of brothers! But the good news was that she inherited all the money from all seven brothers. But this is the question for you: Do you think Dulce decided to donate for three years to help build a new church in Coachella? You decide! End of story!

So what is that first challenge? Right. Be generous! It’s important to remember that this is OUR project as a family, not the project of the priests or the diocese. In my small faith community last week, one of the members of my community commented that a lot of people think the Vatican or the bishop should pay for and build a new church, because they’re rich. This is a common misconception. The Vatican and the diocese are not rich. We send money to them each year so they can pay their expenses, not vice versa! We must own this project as our own! Everyone must participate!

In our second reading today, Saint Paul says – and I think these words could just as easily apply to us! -- May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father… encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word… We are confident of you in the Lord that what we instruct you, you are doing and will continue to do. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the endurance of Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, 3:4-5 (NAB) You see, the Lord wants us to be generous. He wants to encourage and strengthen us in good deeds, and he is confident that we will do our duty and please him!

The second challenge is this: Be Joyful. Saint Paul says, “God loves a cheerful giver!” Nobody should be forced or compelled to give. It should be something joyful. It’s only when we give joyfully that we receive the full benefit of blessings from the Lord. Of course, in this campaign, we’ll accept a grumpy giver, too!

The third challenge is to sacrifice. The word “sacrifice” means that we give until it hurts a little. You’ve heard the expression in terms of physical exercise, “No pain, no gain.” The same applies spiritually. It’s easy to give God the leftovers – a few dollars here or there – but God is not a beggar and does not want the leftovers. God wants the first fruits, the very best of what we have. I see people all the time give just out of their surplus. In the Bible, it happened with the Pharisee who gave a lot more money than the poor widow – but she gave of her last coin, while he just gave out of his abundance. It happens here in church – people put a dollar or five into the collection plate, but then spend $80 or $100 at a brunch after Mass, or $15 or $20 on ice cream from the ice cream truck right outside the doors of the church, on the streets. At Mini-Retreat 101, I always tell folks that the Bill Gates’ of the world – those who are rich and have been blessed – must give more – much more! – than the poor! Bill Gates can easily afford to give away 99 percent of his wealth, and live on the remaining 1 percent, which is probably about $100 million or so!

Sacrifice is important, especially because these pledges to the new church are above and beyond our regular giving. We need to maintain our regular weekly tithes to pay for the gas, the water, the electricity and the other costs of running our parish. These pledges for the new church are extra, above and beyond our regular giving, so it will require some pain and some sacrifice.

How do we do that? Last week, I put up on the screen a quote from Mother Teresa: “It is not how much we give, but how much we put into giving.” All of us needs to sacrifice, to dig deep into our hearts, to listen and ask God what he wants us to do. The quantity will differ, person by person, depending on circumstances – but all of us will have to sacrifice equally and do our part. Our goal is $6 million. It sounds like a lot. But do you know why this goal is attainable? For two reasons: First, there are lots of us, so if we all do our part, the job gets done. Failure will only happen if some people slack off – because a few people can’t carry a project this big all by themselves. Secondly, a little bit saved – over time – goes a long way. I calculated this last week: One soda pop per day for three years is $1,096! Just one soda pop a day! And everyone can do that!

So let’s get real specific, real concrete. How can you help in this campaign?

For those who’ve been blessed with lots of wealth, you need to step up to the plate and be generous. You might need to make a truly big gift -- $200,000, $100,000, $50,000. Maybe there aren’t that many people here like that, but there are some, and you would be surprised. People who own multiple homes or apartments and have rental income; people who own farms and land; people who can dedicate profits from their business; people who’ve saved up a lot of money over a lifetime, or have investments, or who’ve received an inheritance or some kind of settlement. But it requires great generosity, great trust in God.

There also are those who are struggling financially. That’s part of the reason those wealthier folks need to step up to the plate, to help out those who are less fortunate. But all of us can participate! Here are some ways:

- Prayer. Everyone can do this!
- Save a dollar a day – give up soda pop, or candy, or the ice cream truck, or fast food, or beer or cigarettes.
- Find “padrinos” or friends to help. I know one guy who is planning to ask his coworkers to chip in $1 a week.
- Ask your family – brothers, sisters, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins. Some might not even live here, or they might not come to church here, but they still might be willing to chip in. I asked my parents, my brothers, my aunts and uncles and cousins if they would consider donating to our new church.
- Save coins. This is easy. Here’s my collection of coins, just from the last few weeks… [show coins]
- One lady told me, “I don’t have a lot of money, but I’m willing to sell tamales twice a month and donate the profit to the new church.” One of our small faith communities is organizing a car wash today behind McDonald’s in Indio, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to raise money for the new church. Everyone can participate somehow. We just have to be creative and willing to sacrifice!

Finally, there are those in the middle financially. That may be the largest group of parishioners – they’re not rich, but they’re also not poor. They have access to discretionary income. Here, our choices are what really matter – will I postpone or give up that new pickup or that new house or that new TV or that vacation for a few years? W I sacrifice some of my comfort so that this new church will be built? Here are a few possible ways people in the middle can help with this new church project:

- Cut back on some luxury expenses – eating out less, going to the movies a bit less, giving up on Starbuck’s everyday on the way to work. That Starbuck’s adds up, expense wise! About a week and a half ago, I took my two godsons and one of their friends to the movies in Rancho Mirage. Four of us. The tickets cost $10 each, $40 altogether, and then another $25 or $30 for popcorn, nachos and soda pop. One trip less to the movies a month or one less night out at a restaurant can save $50, $70 or even $100 or more, which could really make a big difference in building this new church!
- Maybe you could give your tax refund check to God instead of spending it.
- Maybe you could postpone a big expense – a new TV, a new car, a new home, a fancy vacation – and use what you save for the new church.
- Maybe your could cut out the premium cable TV channels – HBO and so forth – and use the money you save for the new church.
- Perhaps you could downsize somewhere or sell off something you don’t really need or use. Last night, one gentleman from our church offered to sell a used car, which he almost never uses, and donating that money to the new church.
- Maybe plan a less expensive wedding or quinceañera or baptism or birthday party.
- Maybe go to the casino less or spend less money playing golf.

The point is this: There are many ways to raise this money, and they are not too difficult, if everyone pulls together. But it does take everyone, not just a few. What seems impossible becomes possible, because, with God, nothing is impossible,

Remember our history. Back in 1971, our parents and grandparents sacrificed – and the result is this church, which has served our community for more than 35 years. We can do it again. It’s now our turn to make a contribution to our community, for the sake of our children and our grandchildren. Watch with me now this movie, made by some of our youth, about the new church:

[Show the video]

After Mass today, all of us will get a copy of this video, one per family. Take it home, watch it this week. Show it to others of your family and friends. Spread the word. We need lots of people and lots of support, in order to be successful.

Remember: Next week is Commitment Sunday. Pray. Ask God to speak to you. Listen.

We’ll ask each and every family next Sunday at all Masses to fill out a commitment card, making a promise to God for three years. Together, we will build our future. It takes generosity and a cheerful openness for all of us to do our part, all of us to participate and to sacrifice. But nothing is impossible with God!

Amen and God bless!

Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.

Now you can see why I asked (Name) ________ to help me. He’s going to play Zacchaeus for us today. Imagine Danny Devito as Zacchaeus! Now Zacchaeus was rich – a tax collector – but most probably, he was rich because he stole and swindled people. That’s why he had a reputation of being a thief. Let me ask a quick question of everyone here: Raise your hand if you’ve ever robbed a bank! Nobody! We definitely have a church of saints here! Now, a second question: Anyone here ever robbed God? Think about this one. Anyone here not given God our full 100 percent, of our time, of our talent, of our love, of our energy, of our treasure? All of us – myself included – have stolen something from God. There is a bit of Zacchaeus in all of us! Let’s continue with the story:

So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.

[Invite child to climb up a step ladder] Anyone here ever climbed a tree? Anyone here ever got stuck up a tree? I’ve never gotten stuck up a tree, but in my first year here as pastor, I got stuck up on the roof. I was trying to fix a TV antenna, and couldn’t get down because the step ladder was too short. So I was waving and screaming for help to the cars passing on the street – to no avail. Everyone in their cars just passed by, waving, yelling, “Hello, Father, how are you doing?” They couldn’t hear that I was screaming for help! Spiritually, we sometimes get stuck up a tree, cut off from God. We feel that God is off in the distance, that we’ve drifted away from God. Sometimes we like to be up that tree – playing church, playing religion, watching the Lord from a distance, but we don’t want to get too close to the Lord, because that might require something of us. We like staying up in that tree – maybe going to church on Sunday, but don’t ask me to practice my faith too seriously, especially not around my friends or at work or with my family – Sunday, OK, for one hour only, but not Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday or Friday or Saturday!

Zacchaeus is up in the tree – curious about Jesus, but not really wanting to get too close to the Lord. Let me ask everyone here: What day did all our children celebrate last Wednesday? Right – Halloween. I’ve brought with me, for our little Zacchaeus, some items from my Halloween collection. [Pull out a monster mask and ask child to put it on] Sometimes we hide from God. We put on masks. We don’t show God or others our true selves. We pretend to be what we are not. [Pull out a Halloween chicken head mask and ask child to put it on] Sometimes we’re afraid to come down out of the tree, we’re afraid to really allow God to change us. We’re not sure where that will lead, so we hold back, we make excuses, we play “chicken.” [Pull out a set of headphones and ask child to put it on] Sometimes we don’t listen to God. We block the voice of God out with the noise of our society, or we distract ourselves with other things.

Last week, I talked to one of my godsons. He’s a great kid, really – good grades, active in sports and in other activities at school. He’s almost 16 and he asked me, “Padrino, I want to get a job. I need some spending money. What do you think?” We talked about it. I asked him about his grades, told him that studying had to be a priority. And I asked him how he was going to find time to work, with all his sports and other school activities. “No problem,” he said proudly. “I’ve figured it out. I’ll go to school and do my sports and school activities Monday through Friday, I’ll work Friday nights and all day Saturday, on Saturday night I’ll have time for my friends or for my sports and club activities, then I’ll work all day Sunday, do my homework Sunday night, and be ready for school again on Monday.” I asked him point blank, “And what about God? Where do you fit your relationship with the Lord into this busy schedule, if you’re working all day Saturday and Sunday?” “Oh,” he said, and he paused. I asked him again. Again, “Oh.” He’s a good kid. He said, “I’ll get up early Sunday morning and go to Mass at 7 a.m., before I go to work.” I said, “Right!” I don’t know any 16-year-old teen who, after working all day Saturday, going out Saturday night, having to work all day Sunday, is able and willing to get up for 7 a.m. church services. It’s just not realistic. You see, even for good kids, the noise of the world, the lure of money, the attraction of a job or sports or going out and having a good time, or just sleeping in late – they subtly, subconsciously, almost without us knowing or being aware, crowd out God.

Jesus said to Zacchaeus: Don’t stay up in the tree, far away from me. Take off the masks. Get rid of the fear. Take off the earphones. Listen to me, not to the noise of the world. I love you. I created you. I know what is best for you. Follow my plan and my purpose for your life, not your own plans, not what the world tells you – and I will give you abundant life. Come down! And so we read:

When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." And he came down quickly and received him with joy.

But notice what comes next:

When people all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner."

There will be others who criticize us, demean us, poke at our self esteem, tear us down. Remember last week when I talked about “magnifying glass” people – those who are always judging everyone else, criticizing everyone else, putting everyone else down? It may be our own family members, a spouse or a child – don’t go to church, don’t be a religious fanatic. You’ll never, ever live a life pleasing to God and you will never, ever fulfill God’s plan and God’s purpose for your life if you listen to the critics and try to please them. We are here on the earth to please just one person, the Lord, and not the crowds. Look at how Zacchaeus responded:

But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over."

He responded not just with words, but with actions, with heartfelt generosity. We too must “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.” And listen to the result:

And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:1-10, New American Bible)

Please give a big round of applause to my helper here, Zacchaeus. [Applause for child] Now let’s take the story of Zacchaeus and apply it to our own lives. Mother Teresa once said, “It is not how much we give, but how much we put into giving.” God wants us to be generous, but it isn’t about the amount, it’s about our heart. Zacchaeus was so filled with the joy of the Lord that he was willing and able to give lavishly, joyfully.

How do we discern God’s will for our lives. Here are the steps. Let’s read them together:

1. Stay focused on God.
2. Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance.
3. Follow Biblical and church principles.
4. Consult with godly and discerning people.
5. Don’t follow popular opinion or what other ungodly people say.
6. Ask tough questions of yourself.

Here are some examples of those tough questions:

1. In what ways am I hiding from God?
2. In what ways am I stuck up in a tree?
3. What is God inviting me to do?
4. Am I open to respond to God with generous faith? Or do I hold back?
5. Am I allowing others and their criticism to hold me back?

We’re building a new church. It’s going to take a lot of prayer, a lot of commitment, a lot of sacrifice on all of our parts. I heard a joke last week about two young men who were best friends and who both had a deep conversion to the Lord. They promised each other that they would always be faithful to the Lord, and they would always give God 10 percent of whatever the made. The first became a pastor, the other a businessman. At first, the businessman struggled. It took time for his business to take off. In the first year, he only made $10,000, but – per his promise to God – he gave the Lord 10 percent, which was $1,000. As years went by, he was more successful -- $100, 000 a year, $500,000 a year, a million dollars a year, and he kept faithfully giving to God his 10 percent -- $10,000, $50,000, $100,000. But one year, he made $70 million, and he just couldn’t fathom parting with 10 percent of that to God. Ten percent was $7 million! So he went to his friend, the pastor, and he asked the pastor to pray to God for him, asking God to let him off the hook with his promise as a young man. The pastor knelt on the floor and began to pray fervently. The businessman asked his friend, “Are you asking God to let me off the hook about my promise?” “No,” said the pastor, “I’m asking God to give you back that first job when you only made $10,000 a year!”

The real question is: Are we giving God our very best? Or are we giving the Lord the scraps off the table, the leftovers? This parish has a lot of people who are poor and struggling. Maybe they can’t give a lot of money. Maybe their gift will be of their time and talent, their energy and their prayers. Maybe they’ll just be able to give up a soda pop a day and give that money to the campaign to build our new church. Others of us are in the middle, economically. We’re not rich, but neither are we poor. We have discretionary income – but will we spend it for God or on ourselves? It might mean cutting back on going out to restaurants or fast food, or cutting back on beer or soda pop or cigarettes, or postponing a vacation, or postponing the purchase of a new wide screen TV, or cutting out some of those premium cable TV channels. Will we give God our very best? A few people in our community really have been blessed with a lot of money. They own businesses or homes or apartment complexes, or they’ve received an inheritance, or they’ve been able to save a lot of money over the course of many years. They have the ability to show extraordinary generosity, if they wish. In all those groups, there are people who are very, very generous, who are constantly the first to give, no matter how big or small that gift is. And then, there are others who (as they say in Monterrey) are “codos,” tight.

Why be generous? Why be good stewards? On the screen are some of the reasons:

1. God has been generous to us and we are grateful.
2. Generosity reminds us that all we have comes from God.
3. Generosity enlarges our heart to love.
4. Generosity teaches us to trust in God, not ourselves.
5. Generosity refocuses us on God, not ourselves.

Remember, God calls all of us. God has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives. But it is up to us to listen, to respond. “We keep on praying for you,” says Saint Paul, “that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11, New Living Translation)

Last week, it being Halloween, I came across the following interesting reflection: “A woman was asked by a co-worker, "What is it like to be a Christian?" The co-worker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then he cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, and then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Let me conclude by showing you a painting, entitled “Light of the World,” by Holman Hunt. He painted it back in the 19th century. Jesus is holding a lamp in one hand. He wants to scatter the darkness and fill our lives with light and love. And he is knocking on a door with the other hand. But notice: The door where he is knocking does not have a door handle. Anyone know why? It’s because the door represents our hearts, and the handle is on the inside of the door, but not on the outside. Jesus never forces himself upon us. He never pushes open the door to force us to follow him. He knocks gently. He invites, just as he invited Zacchaeus to come down from the tree and to follow him.

Jesus is knocking at our hearts, too. He is inviting us to open the door. He promises to fill us with His light and his love and his life. But are we listening? Will we respond? Will we take off the masks, get rid of the fear, hear his voice – and in choosing to follow him, discover true fullness of life?