27th Sunday in Ordinary Time @ St. Apollinaris Church

HOMILY - 27TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
OCTOBER 1-2, 2016
4:30 PM (SAT), 7:30 AM (SUN) ORDINARY FORM MASSES

Motivation is a theoretical construct used by psychologists to explain people’s behavior. It seeks to assign a reason to someone’s actions, desires, and needs. It can also be seen as a direction to behavior, identifying what prompts an individual to act a certain way, or why someone might repeat a certain action. It is unique in the sense that while a psychological concept, it has become part of the everyday language of popular culture.

In the Incentive Theory of Motivation, there are two types of motivation – these being intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic motivation is a self-desire to experience new challenges and new things, to evaluate oneself, and to observe and gain knowledge. Here the motivation exists within the person, and is driven by interest and enjoyment. Intrinsic motivation is long-lasting, but is difficult to foster; and the varieties are as diverse as there are individuals.

Extrinsic motivation comes from influences outside of a person, and is the performance of an action in order to obtain a desired outcome. Typical extrinsic motivators are rewards and punishments (or the threat of punishment), as well as competition. Here, there is the difficulty that a person may focus less on the desired action and more (or too much) on the end result. There is even the possibility that punishment or threats may actually result in an increased interest in an undesired activity.

Overall, motivation can be seen as a cycle where thoughts influence behavior, behavior influence performance, and performance in turn influences thoughts. Motivational theories can be categorized as rational or natural, cognitive or process; and there are many different theories … each of which have their own adherents, detractors, and applications.

Today is the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In the First Reading, we hear from the Prophet Habakuk, one of the Twelve Minor Prophets. Very little is known about this prophet, but because of the content of his oracles and prophecies, it is presumed that he lived around the year 600 BC. His name is also obscure, and is probably based on the Hebrew word meaning “to embrace.”

Today’s first reading begins with the prophet’s lament to God, and ends with God’s admonition to have faith and to persevere in hope.

The Gospel reading, which continues our readings from St. Luke, consists of two parts. First, the apostles’ recognition that they need more faith, and their petition to Christ to increase it. The parable that follows is a lesson addressed to this request.

This parable is a cautionary tale similar to the Parable of the Talents. After all, the expectations of any servant is that he is to serve, and that the master will be waited on. Jesus asks the unlikely question “Who among you …” and indeed, the answer is most likely, not me.

When God bestows a gift on an individual, He expects that it will be utilized to further the growth of the Kingdom of God. If all we do is receive God’s gifts, and merely return them to Him … not seeking to further the greater glory of God – then we are “unprofitable” or in some translations “useless” servants.

Saint Paul addresses this in the beginning of his Second Letter to Saint Timothy which hear in today’s Epistle reading.
Timothy is encouraged to “fan into flame the gift of God” … and we would do well to heed this admonition as well.

Through Baptism, we have all received the Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Love. Supernatural gifts which go beyond mere natural belief, trust, and compassion.

Yet we must use these Divine gifts and fan them into flames … without fear or shame … in order to experience the power of these gifts which come to us from the indwelling Holy Spirit of God. It is only through the motivation of the Spirit of God that we can begin to build up the Kingdom of God.

As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us pray that we might embrace the supernatural gifts we have received through Baptism and through all the Sacraments … “profitably” … that is, for the greater glory of God, and for the furthering of His Kingdom. As we ask for a greater outpouring of not only Faith, but also Hope, and Love … let us prove ourselves useful and profitable servants of God, by living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our daily lives, and with courage receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

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