From Father George's Desk 10/4/2026

Today’s readings give us much food for thought as we begin to draw toward the end of the liturgical year. Reflecting upon the parable of the tenant-farmers in today’s gospel the question for us is: “How well are we tending the Master’s vineyard?” When God asks us to account for our stewardship of what He has entrusted to us how will we respond? If we heed the wise and beautiful words of St. Paul in today’s reading from the Letter to the Philippians...to keep on doing that which is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, and worthy of praise...then we may be able to render a just harvest to the Master.

o, what is stewardship? The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) summarizes: “What identifies a steward? Safeguarding material and human resources and using them responsibly are one answer; so is generous giving of time, talent, and treasure. But being a Christian steward means more. As Christian stewards, we receive God's gifts gratefully, cultivate them responsibly, share them lovingly in justice with others, and return them with increase to the Lord.”

Since 1972, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated the month of October as Respect Life Month and the first Sunday in October as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics we must work constantly, not just on one Sunday or during one month of the year, to grow in our awareness and understanding of the whole spectrum of the Church’s pro-life teachings so that we may give witness to their truth. In our current climate of overheated political rhetoric, politicians, television pundits, and internet trolls are quick to latch onto the Church’s teachings when it suits their politics and just as quick to abandon them when they don’t. The following excerpt from the bishops’ 2004 statement on political responsibility—a little old but in no way dated—is a clear, concise reflection today for this Respect Life Sunday:

“As Catholics, we are not free to abandon unborn children because they are seen as unwanted or inconvenient; to turn our back on immigrants because they lack the proper documents; to create and then destroy human lives in a quest for medical advances or profit; to turn away from poor women and children because they lack economic or political power; or to ignore sick people because they have no insurance. Nor can we neglect international responsibilities in the aftermath of war because resources are scarce. Catholic teaching requires us to speak up for the voiceless and to act in accord with universal moral values.

“The Catholic community is large and diverse….But all Catholics are called to a common commitment to protect human life and stand with those who are poor and vulnerable. We are called to provide a moral leaven for our democracy, to be the salt of the earth.”’

Let us pray each day that, with the Holy Spirit’s help, we, the Church, may truly be a leaven in our society.