"The More We Give, The More We Get (from God)" - 25th Sunday Homily

I've been going to my mom's on Sunday nights.

We watch movies on Netflix together.

I'm in charge of picking the movie each week.

And was doing well until last Sunday night.

Because we have been watching comedies, which she liked.

So I figured this is going to be breeze.

Looking for the menu.

Because you watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off, you might like these.

and take two seconds.

Well, that row never came up and I'm going up and down, up and down for minutes and now I'm starting to panic because now I have to shop for a movie.

And so panic comes in, patience leaves and my mom's like, are you okay?

I'm like, I got this, I got this.

And so then I'm looking for like 10 minutes and I'm sweating and she's like, need help?

I'm like, I got it.

And then like the next...

Popular movie I see, I'm getting.

So I click on it and it's Jurassic Park.

I mean that's gotta be like kids movie right?

It's popular, dinosaurs, I've seen it.

And it comes out of the warnings like violence, terror.

My mom's like, terror?

I'm like, oh my gosh, you've gotta be kidding me.

She's like coming around for half of the movie.

She's looking at me the other half like, why'd you pick this?

I'm fast forwarding through the raptor scenes.

And half of the reason I'm there is so she has a good night's sleep.

So I think I lost my job.

She's going to say you're no longer trustworthy in this.

We'll see what happens tomorrow night.

But Jesus talks about being trustworthy in small matters and great ones.

And the whole discussion about wealth is not just about money and possessions.

It's about all that we have.

So if we do an inventory of our wealth, like a big examination of conscience, look at the good and the bad.

Is it a result of what we've taken from others or what we've given?

Certainly, taking from others, steal their money or things.

And in the long form of the gospel, the dishonest steward had taken from his boss, the rich man.

But you can also rob people of their dignity.

The first reading says, don't trample on the poor.

I've known people who didn't get jobs or clients because they were out of restaurant with their

employer or trying to be employer and trying to be client and they were rude to the wait staff.

So they recognize that these people are not trustworthy in small matters.

It means dishonest wealth, it's Godless.

But true wealth is Godlike.

It's giving to others.

It's giving politeness and generosity to servers and the poor.

Lifting up the poor as God does.

Giving it your all in work and family.

The American dream.

I work hard, I receive prosperity, I think it's in line with this gospel.

True wealth is an accumulation of acts of goodness and love.

It's building up treasure in heaven.

It's all the things that you have given towards and done things the way you're supposed to do.

The more you give, the more you get.

God gives you, you give it away.

God gives you more, you give it away.

More away.

And in this rhythm, this process, you become trustworthy in small matters and then great ones.

It really is a participation in divine life.

And true wealth are all the graces and blessings from the Lord.

and those experiences of heaven, kingdom of heaven on earth.

Even tonight, as I've said before, you have given yourself to be here, given your time, given your heart, given your mind, and you receive Him, Jesus Christ, in word and in

sacrament.

It is in giving that we receive.