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The master commended that dishonest steward for acting prudently.

The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk terrifyingly exemplified the authentic presence of evil in the world. I truly do not understand how a person can do such a horrific thing, with no regard for the sacredness of another person’s life or his family and society. Additionally, in the words of the Utah County attorney, this is “an American tragedy” that had happened while Mr. Kirk was “engaging in one of our most sacred and cherished American rights, the bedrock of our democratic republic: the free exchange of ideas,” and a “senseless and needless taking of his life” that “has shattered the lives of those he loved and those who loved him.”

I have prayed and will continue to pray for Mr. Kirk and his family and encourage all in our parish community to do the same. The remaining question, or questions, have to do with how we respond, where we go from here, and what we can do to bring an end to such violence and destructive divisiveness.

The parable featured in today’s Gospel is one of the most difficult to understand. It seems like Jesus is praising the actions of a deceitful man. In the parable, the master extolling his dishonest manager is an example of a sinner affirming the immoral practices of another sinner. The point that Jesus is making is that who we are, and who and what we associate ourselves with now, reflects our future. Who you “make friends” with now will influence both your earthly and eternal life ahead. 

The governor of Utah spoke passionately about the ill effects of social media and how it may have enabled the assassin. Social media and other aspects of online culture allow us to immerse ourselves in a virtual echo chamber. Extremists use these means to stir up anger and hostility, and they are effective. It’s an environment where no opposition is heard, and there is no room for rational counterpoints. Humanity and real personhood are replaced by ideology. This phenomenon is not limited to the virtual world, but exists in social circles, academia and other communal constructs. Online gaming, particularly that which involves weaponry and “killing” enemies, compounds the destructive effects of these insular bubbles of group think.

The church is called by the Lord to be attentive to the effective persuasiveness of evil. We need to be aware of how younger generations are living within these unnatural dynamics. As we heard last week, God so loved the world that he sent his only Son, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. We cannot be fooled into believing the treacherous realities of insular communities, real and virtual, will not continue to bear evil fruit. We can only be saved from these present-day horrors by making sure that we and our children are not immersed in a realm that has no humanity but immersed in Christ.

Mr. Kirk attempted to engage in real human encounters that fostered dialogue. The devil resists such efforts but does not win, if we follow not the cunning ways of sinful behavior but the ways of Christ’s sacrificial and merciful love.

CATECHETICAL SUNDAY – We tend to refer to catechists only as those who formally teach religion. We are all called to be disciples, that is, learners who teach. Each and everyone of us is called to share our faith, in word and in action. We all have the potential to be “influencers.” This is particularly true when we foster hope. How quick we are to be despondent and negative. We owe each other not complaint but hope. Our hope is in the Lord and how he has accompanied us on our earthly journey. Be a catechist for others, and let them know the hope you have found in Christ.

This annual celebration of Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity to express our gratitude to all who serve as catechists in our Faith Formation program. We are also extremely blessed by the dedication of our Faith Formation Coordinator, Mrs. Grace Rozea, and all the staff that work with her.

Peace,