September 20, 2026

Dear Parishioners,

I’ve wrestled with this parable for years now (the parable of the workers all receiving the same wage though they work a different number of hours). Again, it’s one of those “nice in theory” parables, but when you have to live it out–and we’re called to live out all the parables–it’s not so nice. Because, if you’re like me, you assume you’re the worker that has been working since 6am and so deserve more. It feels unfair that other people, who don’t seem to be “working” as hard, have it just as good. It seems unfair to not receive a greater token of appreciation for your hard work.

How many of us feel unappreciated? Parents, grandparents, teachers, first responders, etc.? How many of us gripe, silently or vocally, that here we are, going to Mass faithfully, trying to live a holy life and follow the commandments, contributing to the Church, and then we have some serious cross? Meanwhile, the fella next door never goes to Church and seems able to do whatever he wants, and he’s driving a Ferrari. Not fair, no?

Well, let me comment quickly on Mr. Ferrari. He might seem to have it great, but you can’t be so sure. Maybe the Ferrari is his way of consoling himself because he is deeply unhappy (not trying to say anyone who drives a nice car is a lousy person). “He has had his reward,” the Lord would say. And while you don’t have the Ferrari and are struggling to make ends meet or are suffering taking care of your troubled child or aging parent, the Lord would say to you, “You are blessed.” Because life is about more than Ferraris and nice vacations and even a healthy body. Life is about relationships, and the greatest relationship is the one we have with God. And often it’s the cross that puts us into closest contact with God. I’m not judging Mr. Ferrari. I just hope he’s close to God, otherwise he’s far worse off than you are.

Back to the parable at hand, it’s hard because Mr. Ferrari will get the same reward as you. Over the years I’ve come to the point where I’m not resentful of Mr. Ferrari. I’m not bitter about working harder and carrying the day’s burden. OK, Fr. James, good, but not great. Not being angry and not being resentful isn’t even half the equation of holiness. The Ten Commandments consist mostly of “Thou shalt nots” but the New Covenant is about positively doing something. OK, I’m not angry, but am I happy? Am I happy that Mr. Ferrari has received the same reward? That’s the heart we’re called to have. 

Why do I need to be happy about injustice (assuming Mr. Ferrari doesn’t deserve his reward)? Because, first, it’s not injustice. The world would see it as injustice. Thucydides famously wrote, during the Peloponnesian War, “the strong do what they want and the weak suffer what they must.” But we have the eyes of faith and not of the world. No, this is not injustice, this is generosity. God is generous. It’s for me to rejoice because God is rejoicing. God rejoiced that he could save the undeserving. If I love Christ as much as I say I do, then I’ll want to imitate him. I imitate not just in praying to the Father and preaching the truth, I imitate him in how he cares for the poor and how he displays generosity.

Instead of looking at myself in the mirror and how I’ve been laboring all day without my just reward, I can instead look to Christ, my love, and be grateful that I can be like him. A chance to imitate Christ (who, as it turns out, worked even longer hours than me) is the greater reward. Come Holy Spirit, help us to truly believe this and live it.

+

I have some exciting news to announce. One of our own parishioners, Jim Mirabelli, has heard the call to become a permanent deacon for the Catholic Church. Jim has been in the program for over a year and is making a special commitment (called Candidacy) this Sunday to continue his preparation at Mundelein Seminary. The program is four years, so Jim will be ordained a deacon in 2029. We are proud of Jim and his wife Kim, and are blessed as a parish that they have received this special call. As you all know, Deacon Bob Bulger is the other permanent deacon for our parish (Deacon Andy Cameron and his wife Dagmar moved to Wisconsin last year). Please keep Jim and Kim in your prayers. And if you have ever thought about the permanent diaconate (or priesthood) and would like more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.

This weekend is the Seminary Appeal special collection. The Archdiocese holds this collection every year to support Mundelein Seminary and all the men preparing to be priests (in addition to the other programs run by the seminary, like the permanent diaconate). Thank you for your generosity. 

We will have a Family Mass this Sunday, September 20th at 10:30am in the Holy Family Chapel.

Once again, I’d like to offer a reminder of some of the parish ministries that meet weekly: OCIA (Sundays at 10am), Men’s Spiritual Group (Mondays at 7:30pm), Griefshare (Tuesdays at 9:30am), Bible Study (Wednesdays at 7pm and Thursdays at 9:30am), Women’s Spiritual Group (Wednesdays at 7:30pm). We hope some of these offerings assist you in your path of discipleship.

The SPC School Fun Run will be taking place this Friday, September 25th in the parking lot. Please note, to our morning Mass goers, the parking lot will be closed. We will still have the two Masses those days. Our apologies for the inconvenience.

The SPC Oktoberfest, which will take place on Friday, October 2nd. A special thanks to the SPC Women’s Club for hosting this event. Stay tuned in the bulletin for more details, but please save the date.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. James