September 26, 2021: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First of all, I notice how the 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time is on September 26 this year.

God desires to save all people, and work His saving power in all through the Holy Spirit.  He bestows His Spirit far and wide so that His Presence can spread through all the world.  In marveling at the work of His Spirit, let us cast aside the temptation to restrict it, and let it overflow through the world.

When He bestows on us His Spirit, He calls us to reflect His love and participate in His work so that we open ways for people to encounter God, too.  

Furthermore, He desires for us to be present to the lowly among us, to be mindful of the needs around us, and to do our part to meet them.  When we do so, we participate in the work by which God makes His Presence and His saving action known in the world.

These readings were proclaimed 6 years ago when Pope Francis celebrated the Concluding Mass for the World Meeting of Families on Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. He talked about showing love in small deeds within our families, domestic churches where we can experience God powerfully.

And when we abide in such love, we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit so that we can be free from what will prevent us from growing in relationship with God, and be free to do great works that reflect God's love.