Pastor's Reflection - September 21, 2025

A Church on Fire: Reigniting Our Zeal for Evangelization

This Sunday’s readings offer a sobering and timely challenge for the Church today. Are we truly committed to spreading the Gospel, or have we, like the steward in the parable, become too comfortable managing what does not belong to us?

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a dishonest steward who, realizing his days in power are numbered, quickly acts to secure his future. While the steward’s ethics are questionable, his urgency and cleverness are praised. Jesus uses this parable to highlight a tragic irony: “The children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light” (Luke 16:8).

In other words, why do those chasing worldly gain show more passion than many of us do in serving the Gospel?

The first reading from Amos is a prophetic outcry against complacency and injustice, condemning those who exploit the poor for profit. It echoes the need for a Church that does not remain silent or indifferent in the face of suffering, but proclaims the Gospel as both word and witness.

And in the letter to Timothy, we are reminded that God “wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). Evangelization, then, is not optional. It is central to our identity. But how often do we pray, speak, and live with that divine desire in mind?

Where Is Our Zeal?

We live in a world where marketing campaigns and social media influencers spread messages daily with incredible urgency and reach. Yet the greatest message, the Good News of Jesus Christ, often remains quietly confined to church walls or private devotion.

We need a renewed zeal, not just emotional enthusiasm, but a passion rooted in love for souls, a desire to bring others into the joy and truth of the Gospel. Evangelization does not always mean preaching on street corners. It can mean:

• Boldly sharing our faith in daily conversations

• Inviting someone to Mass

• Living with such joy, integrity, and compassion that others are drawn to Christ through us

  
  

What Can We Do?

• Pray for a missionary heart. Ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle in us the fire of the early Church.

• Look outward. Who in your life needs to hear or see the Gospel? Start with one person.

• Be intentional. In a world full of distractions, live with eternal purpose.

As Jesus said, “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” Let us choose God with urgency, clarity, and zeal. The Church does not just need more programs. It needs disciples on fire.

In Christ,

Fr. James Northrop, Pastor