On vacation with my parents this week, I
visited the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Park in Hodgenville, Ky. At this park is a large monument at the place of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. A grand set of
stairs in the hillside leads to a large granite and marble structure. Inside is a humble
cabin not much more than an arm’s span wide and three arm’s spans long.
The
only problem, scientist have discovered it's not
old enough to be Lincoln’s birth cabin. Yes, it sits on the spot of the original
cabin; the land belonged to Thomas Lincoln, Abe’s father, but it is not
the cabin.
The National Park Service calls it a symbolic birth cabin. It all started with plan to make money. Visit the park to learn the whole story. It's kind of like the stories we hear today.
In the first reading, greedy people take
advantage of the poor by cheating them out of their wages, out of food, and even
take advantage of their lives. We will diminish the
ephah (a bushel) add to the shekel (used as balance of scales) and fix our
scales for cheating! We will buy the lowly for silver, and the poor for a pair
of sandals; even the refuse of the wheat we will sell!”
They wanted the Lord’s Day to be over so they could continue their
cheating. They wanted the festivals of the Lord to end to continue their
dishonest ways. They are just going through the motions of prayer and worship.
The
gospel parable asks if we are doing the same. Are we honest stewards of God’s
mercy? Do we share from our bounty with those less fortunate or are we cheating
God?
Jesus
came to teach us to love, to care for the poor, the less fortunate, and those
in need. Paul re-enforces Jesus’ message by bringing this ideal of a new life. We are to offer supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings for
everyone. This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be
saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.
I
like the fact that St. Paul asks us to pray for the poor and lowly sinners who
are Kings and those in authority. These are poor
for the love of Christ.
This
is a great idea in our time's of politics and issues. It is a great idea
when political platforms are built on legalized killing of the unborn and rail against
Christ and His church. Our countries founding ideals and thoughts are not understood
and twisted to become a rallying cry for unrest. The messages we hear are poor
for the love of Christ.
Abraham
Lincoln said, “Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm.”
I think that is what God is asking us to do. Put our feet in the right place
and stand firm. Stand firm in God’s mercy and be good stewards.
This
week the USCCB posted “As we prepare for our national and local elections, may
our political engagement be guided by our Catholic faith.” Don’t just go
through the motions. Don’t be symbolic Catholics. “Put your feet in the
right place and stand firm!”
Pray
for the poor and lowly who are our country’s leaders. Pray our leaders are not
greedy people. Pray they are not just trying to take advantage of us. Pray they
become good stewards of all that they are entrusted with in positions of
authority. Pray for those poor for the love of Christ.
Abraham
Lincoln wrote “I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me.
They have clung to me all my life.”
Pray
for everyone. Lift up the less fortunate, the lowly, and the outcasts. Be good
stewards of God’s mercy, which is the grace and love in Christ we share.
Yall
be good, Yall be holy and always preach the gospel by the way you live and
love. Amen. 
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