Knowing that our Catholic beliefs and practices are to change the way we live - for our faith is true and the truth sets us free - why not propose it to others?  In a time marked by so much self-centeredness and self-destructive behavior, what better solution is there to what ails society than to give witness to our faith’s transforming effects?  After all, St. Paul reminds us in our second reading this weekend from his first letter to Timothy: God…wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth (2:3-4).  Allow me to suggest two ways we can help people do so.

​The first way we can help people come to knowledge of the truth is to invite them to live in accord with the objective moral law, or natural law, something that applies to all of us.  I know it is a popular conceit of our time to think that there’s a buffet of moralities from we are free to choose (or entirely forgo), that there is no objective truth.  Yet deep down we know that is not the case.  “The existence of truth is self-evident. For whoever denies the existence of truth grants that truth does not exist: and, if truth does not exist, then the proposition ‘Truth does not exist’ is true: and if there is anything true, there must be truth” (St. Thomas Aquinas).   So objectivity guides our choices; we make comparisons against a standard.

Think of the natural law in this way: all animals, including us, have inclinations that innately incline us to seek food, to reproduce, and to remain in existence.  Now we humans have special additional inclinations to seek love, truth, meaning, and God.  As Aristotle states, “All men by nature desire to know.” These special additional inclinations represent the first step in understanding the natural law.  We humans pursue both sets of inclinations coextensively; we are free to follow or not follow the baser inclinations, yet make such choices in harmony with the higher inclinations that lead to our true fulfillment.  That’s what it means for us to live morally: we are to live in a way that is harmonious with our nature and the various inclinations that arise from that nature.  This is all made clearer in light of Christ.  "Christ…shows us what it truly means to be human. Christ’s love for us lets us see our human dignity in full clarity and compels us to love our neighbors as he has loved us. Christ…shows us what is true and good, that is, what is in accord with our human nature as free, intelligent beings created in God’s image and likeness and endowed by the Creator with dignity and rights as well as duties” (Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, article 9).

Thus our second way of helping people come to knowledge of the truth is to propose to them Christ, the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6).  Christ is the sole Savior of the world, the One who desires to bring the human family to glory.  The Church that Christ founded is the vehicle by which we journey to this glory.  It is our privileged duty to give witness to the transformative power that flows through the Church to aid us in becoming more and more Christ-like, made fit for such glory.

Our calling as Catholics is a high and challenging one.  When we take our faith seriously and allow ourselves to be shaped by its beliefs and practices, we should then share the fruits of that unfolding experience with others, so that they might come to knowledge of the truth, and benefit as we are benefiting.  I know my two suggestions for inviting others to this adventure are discomforting because of the prevailing culture; and I know “people [only] receive what they are prepared to receive” (Aquinas), but such is our duty.  If we don’t do it, who will?  God has placed us in this time; what are we doing while in it?

David J. Conrad

We are challenged today by readings which call us examine our choices—and these are the very realization of our belief systems. The Prophet Amos from the Old Testament reading begins his oracle (prophesy) with: “HEAR THIS, you who trample upon the needy and destroy the poor of the land!” There are dire consequences for those who break God’s covenant of behavior regarding social justice and idolatry (other gods; like money, for example).

​Jesus says it clearly in the Gospel: “No servant can serve two masters…You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Two thousand years ago Jesus looked at the signs of his times and observed this truth—still a truth for our world today. He urged his disciples to be creative at being good by telling them the parable of the cheating steward who gets caught red-handed. The Steward knows he's going to be fired, he worries. He asks himself, “What shall I do?” He could grab the chance to turn his life around—but he doesn't—he looks after his own security and cheats even more, just to feather his own nest. He's shrewd, but he's not shrewd enough to practice virtue, not wise enough to change course and leave his self-serving ways behind. Granted, it's not easy to do; it never is. Whether it's a good habit or a bad habit, the longer we've had the habit, the harder it is to change.

In the routine of everyday life, it's rare that we take time to think about the long term, and so we end up making shortsighted choices. The untrustworthy steward in today's reading found himself so trapped in his vice that he couldn't come up with another kind of option, behavior. He applied his wit and energies to a fundamental option toward evil, serving only himself.

Jesus says that being trustworthy in small matters means you will be trustworthy in large ones—that the little things do count! A true disciple in every moral situation understands the opportunity to demonstrate holiness. Every dishonesty (however small) makes a liar of us; every decision of selfish interest is a step away from God and love, we end up making short-sighted choices and sealing ourselves in bad habits. We need to take the time to think in the long term. We suffer the consequences of our shortsightedness, but it's what we do afterward that forms our character. We can choose to keep doing the same thing, or we can resolve to change the habit. Being a follower of the Way of Jesus, we are called to live so that our daily choices form patterns of virtue that end up in our living a holier life. Karl Rahner (a German Jesuit priest and theologian who is considered to be one of the most influential Catholic Theologians of the 20th century) calls it a “fundamental option.” When we choose evil, and choose it over and over, we form habits that frame our “fundamental option” away from God. When we choose good, and choose it over and over, we form habits that frame our “fundamental option” towards God.

So here we are, two millennia after Jesus, living in a society that worships money and routinely spews a rhetoric of hatred.

Pope Francis puts it in strong words: the “unfettered pursuit of money” leaves behind the service of the common good and brings “pain, death, and destruction,” “the stench of the dung of the devil.” We are called to rise above the stench. The path requires that we keep ourselves turned toward the One God of all, not the money god of our culture, not the god of war and hate. When we find ourselves wandering off the path of virtue, we remind ourselves that new habits are formed the same way the old ones were, one choice at a time. That's how we end up following the commandment that matters: love God, love our neighbor.

So, fellow believers: HEAR THIS—small matters are practice for the big ones—no short cuts. HEAR THIS—Scripture tells us clearly how our choices are to be made. HEAR THIS—We Are Called to live justly and love deeply. HEAR THIS—you are your choices.

Keep Singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

JUST A NOTE: It is not (and never) too late to join a ministry. If you enjoy singing or you play an instrument, please see me about getting involved in our St. Aidan Music Ministry. I am looking for all voice parts (children, men and women) and a variety of instrumentalists for our various ensembles. Come and see me after any mass, or email me at: [email protected].

Teens and young adults, parents too, consider this live changing pilgrimage being led by the most fantastic team of pilgrimage leaders that we know of. We will tour Portugal, Fatima, participate in the five days of World Youth Day, culminating with a Papal Mass. Then, we pack up and tour four glorious days in Rome praying at dozens of churches and pilgrimage sites daily. Funds are available to support student pilgrims.

​Visit https://www.saintaidanlivonia.org/youth-ministry.html or under the Grow tab, select youth ministry for details.

We are joining St. Fabian’s ministry on this pilgrimage to keep the costs low. The next informational meeting will be held on Wednesday 9/21 at 7pm. St. Fabian is hosting this meeting in their Social Hall at 32200 W 12 Mile Rd. It is only 6.5 miles North of St. Aidan.

Our 6th, 7th and 8th graders were treated to the experience of being the first to crack open a fresh new Bible designed for teens to use at last Sunday’s Family Faith Formation.   The exercise was brilliant.  Each teen was assigned a Bible passage where they would understand a story of a person involved in Jesus’ ministry.  Then the narrator asked them questions about what they read, telling the story of Jesus’ time on earth from the Wedding at Cana to the times He appeared after the resurrection.  While one person helping 24 individuals make sure they were reading the right part of the Bible turned out to be more difficult than anticipated, we got through it! And we will be opening these Bibles every session.

​The lesson:  DT TRJ  Do This To Remember Jesus.  After the Resurrection, Jesus did not walk around from place to place.  He “appeared” in the middle of the room in the middle of the story.  This taught the Apostles that Jesus can be present to us in a new way, without physically being with us.  When we celebrate the Eucharist, our lives are changed as we remember what Jesus did at the Last Supper.  He taught us how to keep Him alive in our hearts through the Eucharist.  If we remember Jesus in our everyday actions, such as at meals, or when tying shoes, we re-focus that part of our day on Him. Imagine a world, or just a household that remembered Jesus weekly at Mass, and then carried out simple daily tasks with prayer throughout the week and then remembering Jesus in every encounter with friends, family, classmates, and even strangers.  Jesus asked us to do this to remember him.

Thank you, St. Aidan, for the gift of these fantastic Bibles.

Paul Pyrkosz
Coordinator of Youth Ministry

I wonder if we have grown so focused on making our home here in this present world, that we have lost sight of the world to come—that our passion isn’t heaven—but living the “good” life here on earth. There is so much around us that may keep us from “remembering” heaven: think of the constant noise of the world, the instant communication of so many sorts—but not the real, heart-to-heart, face–to-face kind. It seems sometimes that with the temptations of power and affluence, the constant blaring seductions of commercials selling some sort of dream or aspiration, and our human desire to be like and to have what our neighbors have—we forget the truth that our true home is with God. (St. Paul reminds us that what is seen is transitory; what is unseen is eternal.)

​The image of a “home” is usually one of comfort and safety. (It should be.) It is the place where you are loved and accepted, in spite of yourself. It is where you receive nourishment and sustenance, encouragement and support, solace and shared sorrow. Home is where your heart is: where your thoughts and feelings are tended, where you can be yourself entirely. (The exception is bad or sinful behavior—but you can reconcile unconditionally with your other “homies.”) Home is supposed to be heaven on earth—or as close as we humans can replicate. But truly, much of this description would describe heaven itself: unconditional love, no more tears or sorrow. In the face of our earthly efforts, our true home is in heaven.

The Gospel today is the story of the sinful Prodigal (wanting too much worldly stuff) who now should remind us of our true home, and of God’s unconditional love and welcome for us. Jesus told his first followers that they needed to make sure their treasure was in heaven, because their hearts would be where their treasure was. He told them that their true home wasn’t on earth and promised them that He was going to prepare a place for them—and then return to bring them to this place—their true home. He told them (and tells us!) that here on earth there will be many trials and sorrows and trouble—but have courage, take heart, because He has overcome the world! He will be with us through it all, we can do all things with God.

So, if our true home is in heaven and not here on earth, how should we live here and now? St. Paul tells Timothy today to teach people to live this way: They should be rich in good works, give generously to those in need, and to always be ready to share with others whatever God has given them. In doing this they will be storing up true treasure as a good foundation for the future—so that they may take hold of a life that is a true life.

True life! True life in our true home awaits us—and we can begin by practicing a true life right here and right now. Let's not get so distracted, derailed, diverted, spoiled, addicted and preoccupied by our current world and all its noise that we forget our time here is just preparation for the real one—the eternal one—our true home.

Keep singing!

Elizabeth Dyc

Just a Note: The Music Ministry (Adult and Youth Choirs) will begin soon preparing for the new season of singing for the glory of God. It is not (and never) too late to sign up. If you have a musical talent, come and see me. If you are interested in this ministry and are unsure of your abilities, come and see me. If you like to sing, come and see me, for as Scripture says: “you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” Answer the call to share your gifts!