Fr Mike Schmitz had a wonderful article in the October 8th edition Catholic Spirit in which he answers the following question: “If I were to grow in any virtue, which one should I make sure I don’t neglect?”
“To ‘live on purpose’ means to live with vision. There is a vision that God has for your life, and we are meant to share this vision. This vision will be more than most people have naturally. Too often, many of us settle for a comfortable life rather than a great life. We settle for a life in which we have fame rather than a life in which we pursue excellence. ”
The virtue he is describing is magnanimity. This virtue has been popping up throughout this last month in conversations I have had and also through online videos that I listen to. This virtue calls us to stretch ourselves to do great things, to be great, with humility. A reminder that we were made for greatness.
In his article, he gives examples of saints who lived out magnanimity by using the gifts that they received to give back to God “an incredible gift.” They used the “talents” given to them and invested them, which multiplied and grew and were given back to the gift-bearer.
This Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples of a parable of ten young women who are given the task to wait for the return of the bridegroom. Not knowing the exact time when the bridegroom will return, they need to make sure that they are prepared for him at any moment. The bridegroom, however, is delayed on his return journey and by the time he does return, only five of the ten women were prepared, and so were rewarded by being allowed to enter into his home.
Brothers and Sisters, let us live our lives with purpose as the saints did. They were not perfect, but were perfected because they did not give up trying to “live on purpose” and to use their gifts to build up God’s Kingdom and His people. A beautiful example of this can also be seen by our Loaves & Fishes Ministry, who have been nominated for the 2020 Participation Award for Stewardship here in the Archdiocese (see page 3 of the bulletin).
Do not let your gifts, your “lamps” go out, but nurture it so we can give God an incredible gift in return. “Live on purpose,” live for God and brings others with you.
During November, remember to also pray for all those who have passed away. May our prayers lift them up as a gift to God that they enter into His Kingdom.
Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for us!
Public Mass has resumed in the church for the Saturday 5pm Sunday Anticipatory Mass Times. We will continue this through November and if things run well, we'll keep it going. If you able to assist as an Usher at the Saturday 5pm Mass, please contact Kay Mottaz. Note, this does not include First Saturday Masses.
