Father Thomas Welbers' Homily

The Beatitudes that we just heard are often understood as the Commandments of Jesus’ New Law of Love, just as the Ten Commandments summed up the Law of the Old Testament. We often find it difficult to understand just what they are asking of us, because they are not phrased like the Commandments, with very clear “thou shalts” and “thou shalt nots.” The New Law of Jesus is not a list of simple do’s and don’ts.

Instead, the Beatitudes speak of relationships which give birth to our attitudes and our actions; the Beatitudes speak of how we must regard one another if we are to be part of the Kingdom of God. Thus “poor in spirit” means that, if we are not poor ourselves, we must still put ourselves in the same position as the poor, not ignoring or avoiding them, but paying attention to them as equals. If we find ourselves having enough of this world’s goods, that in itself is a call to pay attention to those who don’t. We can’t legitimately give thanks for what we have, and at the same time ignore the needs of those who don’t have enough.

As you know, this is Together in Mission Commitment Sunday, you are being asked to make a pledge to help support those parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles that are in areas where they need a subsidy just to survive. Our guest speaker at all the Masses this weekend is Dr. Karen Kallay, a dear and long-standing friend of mine, who, after retiring from a successful career as a public school principal for many years, heard the Lord calling her out of retirement to become principal of Ascension school in south Los Angeles, in one of the most impoverished areas of the city. Karen, I’d like to ask you first of all, why would you do such a thing?

Thank you. I want to add to Dr. Kallay’s presentation that all the money contributed to Together in Mission goes into a special fund that is restricted by the intention of the donors, and cannot be used for any other purpose except for the assistance of schools and parishes like Ascension. There are 46 of those schools, and 32 of those parishes receiving this assistance.

If you did not receive a pledge form in the mail or didn’t bring it with you, I’d like to ask you to fill one out now. If you don’t have a pledge envelope and pencil nearby in your pew, please raise your hand, and one of our wonderful OLA school students will give you one – along with a smile. One member from each family should fill out the form, to indicate what your family’s pledge will be. Please open the flap to find the pledge form, and put your name, address, and phone number on the lines provided. Please print legibly.

Your pledge will be billed over five months or longer if necessary, so please pledge an amount that you can fulfill over that length of time. Please check the mount of your pledge in the space provided, or check “other” and indicate the full amount of your pledge on the blank line. You may, but do not need to, provide a first installment of your contribution now. If you are going to make a down payment now, write the amount of your check on the line provided, and subtract the down payment from the full amount of your pledge, and note the unpaid balance below.

Now tear off the commitment form, place it in the envelope, together with a check if you are making a first installment, and seal it in the envelope, and hold it up high so our wonderful school children can pick it up and thank you for your pledge.

On behalf of Dr. Kallay and the children and parishioners of Ascension School and parish, as well as the children of Santa Teresita School in East LA, which is our sister school, and all the hardworking priests, sisters, and lay men and women who serve in the parishes and schools helped by Together in Mission, and on behalf of the children, families, and the people of God who are served by them, I thank you for your pledge and contribution. This is one way to hear and answer the invitation of Jesus to share in the blessedness of the “poor in spirit.” May God bless your generosity.

© 2005 Thomas Welbers