Homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time "B" - Fr. Edward Namiotka

 

Stay Put

Dear Parishioners,

I have only told this story to a few people over the years.  It concerns my having to make a very important decision that, at the time, could potentially affect my future life as a priest.

Let me take you back to that time.

 

I was attending Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD.  I was more than halfway through my priestly formation, studying to be a priest for the Diocese of Camden, NJ.

An opportunity arose in which I had the possibility to relocate and continue my studies for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.  This involved a formal transfer from my home diocese of Camden to Philadelphia (where I was born and attended college seminary).  The transfer would require the consent of the bishops of both localities—and it appeared to be a genuine possibility without any apparent obstacles to this transfer.


In brief, the door opened for me to study for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and I had to make a potentially life-changing decision—should I stay where I was or go there instead?

I took this question to prayer every day.  I wanted to do whatever the Lord wanted me to do.  I prayed for guidance and direction.  I talked it over with some trusted priests.  I prayed from the depths of my being.  I did not want to make a bad decision. I prayed and prayed and prayed.

In prayer, two words kept coming to me over and over again:  “Stay Put.”   

How do I know if this was God speaking to me or whether this was just my imagination?  I prayed.  I prayed some more.  I prayed unlike I had ever prayed.  I prayed for some sign, some confirmation.

Stay put.  That’s what I “heard” time and time again.  Stay put.  Nothing more!

In the meantime, I had scheduled an appointment at the diocesan office in Camden potentially to finalize my transfer.  I left the seminary in Maryland to drive to the meeting in somewhat of a daze.  It was more than a three hour drive.

Was I about to do something that I might regret for the rest of my life?  It certainly seems like the Lord wanted me to stay where I was.  Lord, help me to make the right decision.

I had stopped at a red traffic light.  I was staring into space.  Then I looked closely at the tractor trailer (semi) immediately in front of me.  I could not believe what I saw!  On the mud flaps on both sides of the truck were two words:  STA PUT.  (Yeah, maybe the spelling was not exact but the message was nonetheless loud and clear!  Alright already, Lord!  I get it!)

Nearly thirty years later, I am a priest of the Diocese of Camden, NJ.  I realize now how God was teaching me how to discern important matters. Prayer—intense prayer—was the key to finding God’s will.

Prayer and a particular pair of mud flaps, that is!

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor

Look closely at the mud flap on the right!

Doing What the Lord Wants

Dear Parishioners,

Did you ever watch a bunch of ants building an anthill?  They work very hard trying to accomplish their task.  All of a sudden, however, the rain can come and destroy all of their hard work. Their work seems to be entirely in vain—at least for the time being.

Our efforts in life can sometimes seem like they are all for naught.  Simon Peter in St. Luke’s Gospel echoes this sentiment when, after an all-night fishing expedition, he relates the following to Jesus: “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing. . .” (Luke: 5:5a)  The passage seems to indicate that Simon and his companions’ efforts were long and tedious but without result.

Psalm 127 reminds us that “Unless the LORD build the house, they labor in vain who build.”

Do the things we attempt in life start in prayer?  Are we doing what the Lord wants us to do or are we trying to convince the Lord that the things that we are doing are worth our time and effort?

We can be very busy doing things.  None of these things can be bad in and of themselves.  However, we can spin our wheels—so to speak—and not get anywhere or get very much accomplished unless we center our work in doing what the Lord wants.

If we finish reading the above passage from St. Luke, it continues:  “ ‘. . . but at your command I will lower the nets.’  When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.” (Luke 5: 5b-6)

Things are different with the Lord’s inspiration and sustenance.  The apostles’ efforts produced a result greater that their imagining!

Pray constantly.  Pray before you start a project.  Pray while you work.  Pray in thanksgiving when you finish.

Otherwise, we can wind up like those ants after the rain.

Fr. Ed Namiotka

Pastor