Memorial of Father Bob Wirth CSsR
Brethren, in today’s Gospel, Jesus our Lord narrates a story that we cannot possibly overlook or ignore. It is a story that explains our general attitude towards “the will of God.” It is a story that points out the hypocritical nature of some Christians. A father had two sons, he came to the first son and asked, “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” The first replied, “I will not”. But after soul searching and reflection, changed his mind and went in obedience to his father. The father went to the second son and gave him the same order. The second son replied immediately and with great enthusiasm, “Yes sir, I will go!” But never went.
Brethren, the first son initially did not want to obey the command of his father. But after experiencing a metanoia, a real conversion went in complete obedience to the will of his father. Meanwhile, the second son who quickly agreed to go to work in his father’s vineyard never went.
Today, we remember a man who had a different experience and a different response to “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today”. Today, we celebrate the life of a man who too was asked by his Father (God) to go and work in his vineyard. But the difference between him and the two sons in today’s gospel is that when he was asked “Son, go out and work in the vineyard” he agreed to go and actually went. Brothers and sisters, we are talking about Father Robert Lee Wirth CSsR, fondly called Father Bob.
When God called Father Bob to become a priest, a life and a vocation considered by many as strange and unusual, he did not resist God. In total obedience he went. As if that was not enough, he was asked to leave his comfort zone, his home country in order to work in Nigeria. Again he did not resist, he went in complete obedience to the will of God.
Brethren, the life of Father Bob gives us another dimension to responding to the will of God. His life is a profound example of how we should respond to God’s invitation at all times. When God calls us, we should be ready to go.
Where is God calling you today? What ministries in our Church do you belong to? What do you think God is expecting you to do in building up our Church- Holy Names? We are in stewardship month; evaluate your contribution towards the building of our Church. Remember stewardship is about using our Talent, Treasure and Time in serving God and building up his kingdom. It is about using those 3-Tees (Talent, Treasure and Time) in the building up of our local Church here in Holy Names and in the Diocese.
The Father of the two sons in today’s gospel is God. The vineyard is our Church, our community and our world. The two sons asked by the father to go out and work in the vineyard represent us. What would be your response? As you think about it, remember the response of Father Bob Wirth who took a different approach to the order “go out and work in the vineyard today”. When he was sent to work in God’s vineyard, he did not contest it. He simply went and did the job well. What about us today? What is our commitment and contribution to this Church? Will you allow the stewardship month to elapse without doing anything? Father Bob has given us a profound and a concrete way of responding to the invitation of God.
May our Blessed Mother, Virgin Mary, the Mother of Perpetual Help intercede for us and help us to always say Yes to God.
Brethren, the first son initially did not want to obey the command of his father. But after experiencing a metanoia, a real conversion went in complete obedience to the will of his father. Meanwhile, the second son who quickly agreed to go to work in his father’s vineyard never went.
Today, we remember a man who had a different experience and a different response to “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today”. Today, we celebrate the life of a man who too was asked by his Father (God) to go and work in his vineyard. But the difference between him and the two sons in today’s gospel is that when he was asked “Son, go out and work in the vineyard” he agreed to go and actually went. Brothers and sisters, we are talking about Father Robert Lee Wirth CSsR, fondly called Father Bob.
When God called Father Bob to become a priest, a life and a vocation considered by many as strange and unusual, he did not resist God. In total obedience he went. As if that was not enough, he was asked to leave his comfort zone, his home country in order to work in Nigeria. Again he did not resist, he went in complete obedience to the will of God.
Brethren, the life of Father Bob gives us another dimension to responding to the will of God. His life is a profound example of how we should respond to God’s invitation at all times. When God calls us, we should be ready to go.
Where is God calling you today? What ministries in our Church do you belong to? What do you think God is expecting you to do in building up our Church- Holy Names? We are in stewardship month; evaluate your contribution towards the building of our Church. Remember stewardship is about using our Talent, Treasure and Time in serving God and building up his kingdom. It is about using those 3-Tees (Talent, Treasure and Time) in the building up of our local Church here in Holy Names and in the Diocese.
The Father of the two sons in today’s gospel is God. The vineyard is our Church, our community and our world. The two sons asked by the father to go out and work in the vineyard represent us. What would be your response? As you think about it, remember the response of Father Bob Wirth who took a different approach to the order “go out and work in the vineyard today”. When he was sent to work in God’s vineyard, he did not contest it. He simply went and did the job well. What about us today? What is our commitment and contribution to this Church? Will you allow the stewardship month to elapse without doing anything? Father Bob has given us a profound and a concrete way of responding to the invitation of God.
May our Blessed Mother, Virgin Mary, the Mother of Perpetual Help intercede for us and help us to always say Yes to God.
