News

Black Catholic Month
Thirty-Third Week of the Year
Saint Joseph Church
November 15, 2008
(Prv 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31;1 Thes 5:1-6;Mt 25: 14-30)

As we celebrate Black Catholic Month, we are reminded of the saintly examples from our black community who continue to inspire us. We think of the canonized saints and martyrs, the saintly family members and friends and courageous witnesses who have gone before us. We believe they have heard the words of today’s Gospel, “Come share your master’s joy.”

Black Catholic Month is a time to celebrate the men and women who, in the midst of darkness, found ways to be, as Saint Paul says, “children of the light.” In the midst of violence, they sought peace, in the midst of hatred they sought love, and in the midst bitterness, they sought forgiveness. Every day, we see darkness in our midst and we are tempted to embrace those things not of God. Our daily call is to behave as “children of the light” and as the people we are in Christ Jesus. We must renew that commitment and we must do so with urgency. Some people say the most dangerous word we can learn is “tomorrow.” Our Readings today remind us that tomorrow is not guaranteed. Thus the opportunity is today, now, to abandon the darkness, to abandon anything in our lives not of God and to shine with the light of Christ.

Black Catholic Month is a time to celebrate the men and women who, like those in the Gospel parable, recognized that God was the source of their talents and everything given to them was meant to be multiplied so as to serve others and give glory to God. I think of Saint Martin de Porres. What a wonderful honor given to him! He was known as “Martin the charitable.” If only all of us could have the same reputation -- and we can. We can easily think of what is lacking in our lives and of our limitations. However, the Lord is asking us to pause today and to give thanks for the gifts and abilities that are ours—we all have them. We are also asked to see to what extent we are sharing them with others. Martin was known for the sharing of his gifts with the sick, the poor, the hungry and those in most need. He recognized that in the end of time we will be judged not by what we have accumulated but by what we have given away. And so we will. Thus, especially as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, what better way to show our gratitude to God than by being charitable in our deeds and using our gifts and talents in service of those in most need.

Black Catholic Month is a time to celebrate all those who in the midst of trials, tribulations, difficulties and crosses remained faithful to the Lord our God. The Gospel parable emphasizes that those who were faithful were rewarded. But notice, the Gospel does not say those who were faithful in the extraordinary, dramatic and heroic moments. No, the Gospel says those who were faithful in small matters were told, “Come share your Master’s joy.” It is in the daily carrying out of responsibilities at home and in the workplace, in the daily carrying of crosses and sufferings, in the daily embracing of challenges and disappointments that we are especially called to be faithful to the Lord and His ways; to be faithful to our commitment to prayer and to be faithful in entrusting our lives to His care and Divine providence. Daily, we are provided opportunities to be faithful to the Lord our God, in the extraordinary moments, yes, but most especially in the small matters of everyday living.

At this Eucharist we commend the faithful departed from the Black Community and all our deceased brothers and sisters to the Lord Our God. We pray that through the intercession of all the saints and martyrs, we may live as children of the light; that we may be charitable in word and deed and ever faithful to the Lord, so that on the day He calls us to Himself we may hear these words: “Come, share your master’s joy.”