September 27, 2015: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

God pours out His spirit on all His people, so they may participate in doing His work.

When Joshua and then Jesus's disciples see the Spirit poured out on others who appeared to be outsiders, and try to stop them, they are rebuked, and told to refocus their perspective:  It's not about who specifically is called, and under what circumstances, but about God, who pours out His spirit so that each person may do what God specially desires for him/her.  We are called to be good stewards of the gifts we have received, especially those that come through His spirit, so we may proclaim God, even as we care for those in need.

This is the vision of how we come together as a people in God's name, which Pope Francis spoke of in his homily at the concluding Mass for the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.  God wants each of us to use the gifts He gives us by His Spirit to come together as one.

September 20, 2015: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus stands before us as the One who suffered and died, that we might have salvation and life.

We are now called to live life in His way, not following our own desires and passions, but in true humility, entrust ourselves to the God who saves us, that day by day He will continue to uphold us.  Furthermore, we are called to spend our lives in service to others, abiding in the wisdom that brings peace and goodwill to all.

September 13, 2015: 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus comes as the Messiah, and His mission is to suffer and die, that we might have Life in Him.

In response, it is not enough for us to just have faith and name Him as Messiah.  We must show our faith through actions:  We must be willing to take up the Cross and follow after Him, knowing the way of suffering leads to Eternal Life.  We must be willing along the way to work in meeting the needs of people, as St. James writes in the 2nd reading, to show our faith is real.  This is how we are to truly live and, as the Psalmist says, walk before God.

It is good to ponder our commitment to taking up the Cross with these readings today, as tomorrow, September 14, we celebrate the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, by which Christ is King and we have Life.

September 6, 2015: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isaiah speaks of the wonders God does in the Earth, bringing speech to the mute, sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and water gushing forth in dry, parched places--a sign of God restoring the Earth.

We see Jesus doing just that in the Gospel reading, healing a deaf man with a speech impediment, not for healing's sake only, but to show God's power to transform our world for the better, that all acknowledge His Reign.

This transformation occurs when we open ourselves to God's power to work in us, and through us.  It happens when we look to the poor, in whom God has chosen to work the power of His reign, lifting up the lowly that they may acclaim Him.