Envelopes from Heaven

Giving Christ control over our pocketbooks

07/02/2025

Matthew 8:28-34 When Jesus came to the territory of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs who were coming from the tombs met him. They were so savage that no one could travel by that road. They cried out, "What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?" Some distance away a herd of many swine was feeding. The demons pleaded with him, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine." And he said to them, "Go then!" They came out and entered the swine, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they drowned. The swineherds ran away, and when they came to the town they reported everything, including what had happened to the demoniacs. Thereupon the whole town came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him they begged him to leave their district.

I don’t make it a habit to quote Protestants in my homilies, but I will today. The great Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther – who, by the way, was an Augustinian monk like Pope Leo XIV – once said: “Every Christian undergoes three conversions: the conversion of the head, the conversion of the heart, and the conversion of the pocketbook.” I will give you one guess which one is the hardest to turn over to Christ’s control.

That is, you can tell what is truly important to people by where they spend their time and on what they spend their money. A great way to do a penetrating examination of conscience is to review your calendar and glance at your checkbook. Those two metrics are infallible indicators of whether or not Christ is in control not only of your head and heart, but also of your pocketbook.

In the gospel today we hear about people who have not yet experienced the conversion of the pocketbook. Jesus performs the mighty miracle of driving out two demons from two tormented individuals. But it came at a cost because Jesus sent the demons into a herd of swine that “rushed down the steep bank into the sea where they were drowned.” No doubt you have heard that Archbishop Fulton Sheen joked, “That was the first occasion of deviled ham.”

But that was no laughing matter to the Gadarenes because they just lost their livelihood, a whole herd of swine. In other words, accepting the gospel imposed an economic hardship on the people. And how did the people react to the Good News of salvation, with joy and celebration welcoming Jesus as a conquering Hero? Quite the contrary, we read: “When they saw him they begged him to leave their district.” Conversion comes at a cost.

If there is one thing I have witnessed with great pride as your pastor, it is the complete conversion to Christ of I.C. parishioners. Your head, your hearts, your pocketbooks, and even your calendars are under Christ’s kingship. Let me give you some examples of this complete conversion. Yesterday I sent someone an email asking them to read something I had written and asking for their honest feedback. Here is what they replied: “Father, we have listened and are reading. Other than any input and prayers, how can we materially help you?”

Yesterday afternoon I went to the store to buy Apollo some dog food. I ran into three people who had been in church earlier that day. We chatted for a few minutes and talked about our dogs. They have two corgis. Later as I went to check out, one of them ran up and said, “Father, let me buy that for you. It’s not every day we get to help a priest pay for something.” Lucky Apollo, he gets to eat for free!

Two weeks ago some friends came down from Fayetteville to go to lunch. While we were eating a parishioner stopped by to say hello. Later, when we asked for the check, the meal had already been paid for. This past Spring I asked a parishioner if he would be willing to drive our shuttle van as a volunteer to take students to Ozark Catholic Academy in Tontitown. He not only said “Yes,” but added, “Let us take you to lunch so you can share the details.”

Again and again people in this parish give generously before I even ask. You support the capital campaign. One parishioner single-handedly underwrote the cost of the new back altar and another family was disappointed someone else beat them to it. You contribute to the Sunday collection, fill our poor boxes to overflowing, and remember us in your will. You continue to give even after you’re gone! I.C. parishioners are sending in their stewardship envelopes from heaven! And that is how the Gadarenes should have responded at the arrival of their Redeemer.

Praised be Jesus Christ!