Sunday, September 6, 2026

 

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, September 6, 2023

(Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20)

Today’s Gospel reading comes from the fourth of the five major discourses forming the body of the Gospel of Matthew. In some ways, this discourse is the most difficult to appreciate, as it contains a vision of the Church that differs from contemporary reality. We see the Church today as a well-structured institution with more than a billion members. In Matthew’s gospel, the Church is considered as a small community of equals.

The reading shows Jesus concerned about the dignity of all members of the Church. It recounts the case of a member who has sinned and describes how the witness to the crime should go to the sinner “alone.” When he finds him, he should admonish him for having done wrong. The witness goes “alone” to the suspect to preserve his dignity. It is possible that the witness may have misjudged the other person’s actions. Also, going “alone” will prevent the suspect’s loved ones from forming negative thoughts about him without knowing all the facts of the case.

Once, a detective went to a suspect’s house to make an arrest. Instead of entering, he asked the suspect to come outside. He later explained his reason for not entering the suspect’s house: he wanted to respect the man’s dignity. He didn’t want the man’s children to think their father was bad or that he had committed a crime before being tried and convicted.

Human dignity has been the foundation of the Church’s Social Doctrine. It is defined as “the intrinsic value of every person, which stems from being created in the image of God.” According to Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical, misunderstandings about human dignity often arise. Some think that a person has dignity only when he can think clearly, live independently, and not suffer greatly. Others believe that dignity is something a person earns through her own efforts. These notions of dignity have a certain validity, but they don't encompass the essential nature of the concept. The elderly woman in the assisted living facility has not lost her dignity, nor has the unborn child in his mother's womb, nor has the criminal in prison.

This weekend we need to reflect on the dignity of workers because in the United States and Canada Labor Day is celebrated tomorrow. Labor Day should never become merely the last holiday of summer. Rather, it should be an opportunity to think a little about what work is and how to enhance the dignity of the worker.

The Church teaches that work, in its origin, is not a punishment but a gift. Through work a person participates with God in creation. Work also gives workers the opportunity to develop their talents so they can become better people. Likewise, it provides sustenance for their families and opportunities to serve in the community. Finally, work allows workers to make the world a more just place. This applies to all just work. Both house cleaners and heart surgeons improve their lives and contribute to the common good when they perform their jobs well.

Pope Leo's encyclical points out the challenges that Artificial Intelligence poses to the dignity of workers. Among other things, it will eliminate many jobs. It will increasingly endanger the miners who extract the minerals to power AI machinery. And it may render human thought obsolete in favor of machine calculations.

How does the Pope guide us in facing these challenges? He reminds us that we all have a responsibility to overcome them by building a civilization of love. He adds that no one can do everything necessary to achieve this civilization, but everyone has something to contribute. He mentions the need to foster dialogue among nations so that the benefits are reciprocal and the harm does not disproportionately affect poor nations. Finally, he urges us to turn to Jesus Christ through prayer and imitation. For Jesus became both a worker and a man who identified with the marginalized and helped everyone. Undoubtedly, his wisdom will guide us beyond calamity with IA and towards a world where love reigns.

Friday, September 4, 2026

 

Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 4:1-5; Luke 5:33-39)

So, you like aged wine.  It is so mellow that you let it linger on your tongue.  In today’s gospel Jesus compares the old way of practicing faith in God to your savory wine.  It is quite rich and satisfying.  But it fails to bring transcendence, at least the transcendence that Jesus is bringing into the world.

The new wine, who is Jesus Christ, makes its drinkers high in the sense that they are raised to a level near that of the Son of God himself.  They can love others as God loves them, not because they are good, but despite their shortcomings.  Those who savor the new wine can find peace where there is antipathy, and hope where there is discouragement.  They know that Christ is their brother and that he makes all the difference.

We take the new wine in the Eucharist.  It is contained in the host that we allow to linger on our palates, and it more tangible in the Blood of Christ, where the priest permits it to be given to all.  The new wine contains the Holy Spirit who acts as a stimulant moving us to thank God and to assist others.

Thursday, September 3, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church

(I Corinthians 3:18-23; Luke 5:1-11)

St. Paul orders Church relations in a radical way in today’s first reading.  For him those holding offices in the Church have less importance.  These are the apostles and evangelists who roam the earth preaching Christ.  They are meant to serve the people of God, who in turn serve the Lord Jesus who serves God the Father.  This differs decidedly from the Medieval arrangement which saw nobility on the first tier, followed by the clergy on the second tier, and then commoners.

Pope St. Gregory the Great, a sixth century pope, Church Father, and Doctor of the Church, took with Paul’s revolutionary arrangement to heart.  He called himself “the servant of the servants of God.”  He understood what Christ meant when he told his apostles that they were to serve and not to be served.  Gregory’s charity was so bountiful, his achievements so manifold, and his impact so considerable that he is recognized as one of three popes called “the Great.”

We should strive to see ourselves as Paul sees the Corinthian faithful.  We are the “People of God,” as Vatican II proclaimed.  We exist to give God thanks and praise.  The clergy helps us on this mission.  But we must make the effort to break with the sinful aspects of the world to live as God’s true sons and daughters.

 Wednesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

 (I Corinthians 3:1-9; Luke 4:38-44)

 As before, in today’s gospel Jesus retreats to a deserted place and is tempted.  This time, however, it is not Satan who does the bidding but “the crowds of people.”  They want Jesus to stay in their town to help them.

 Jesus has successfully met the people’s needs.  His speaking with authority has left them astonished.  His casting out maddening demons and curing illnesses has healed them mentally and physically.  Why wouldn’t they want such a prophet to remain among them?  The gospel mentions that the people try to prevent Jesus from leaving but does not mention how. We might imagine their making offers difficult to refuse.  They may tempt him with a life-tenure as rabbi of their synagogue.  Or perhaps they propose the hand of the beautiful daughter of the town’s richest merchant in marriage!

 But Jesus knows that he is no local guru.  He has come to bring about the universal Kingdom of God.  He will inaugurate it with words, deeds, and ultimately with his life.  He is not to be deterred by temptations of beauty or security.  Jesus here offers us an example and an assurance.  Like him we must know what we are about as Christians and not allow ourselves to be lured away from holiness.  Equally important, Jesus assures us that he will not be distracted from his mission of saving us.

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

 

Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

(1 Corinthians 2:10b-16; Luke 4:31-37)

Cartoons of the 1950s and 60s often depicted characters undergoing temptation .  They showed an angel and a devil bidding their consciences.  Typically, the angel appeared in a balloon at one ear and the devil in a balloon at the other, each with a message of encouragement to follow its way.  The drama, of course, turned on which spirit the character would heed.  The arrangement seemed silly at the time, but it is not irreconcilable to experience. In any case, St. Paul writes of soul struggle in today’s first reading.

Paul tells of contrasting spirits – the “spirit of the world” and the “Spirit of God.”  The “spirit of the world” sees things in terms of advantages to the self.  It looks at other people as physical objects meant to feed their desires for power, prestige, or pleasure.  The “Spirit of God,” on the other hand, views people as does the Creator and Redeemer.  It inspires its possessors to care for others so that they may thrive.  Paul is exhorting the Corinthians to follow the “Spirit of God” imparted as they came to believe in Christ and were baptized.

We are subject to the “spirit of the world” – “Spirit of God” contention.  Part of us wants to see the world as our dominion to be exploited for our gratification.  Part of us, however, knows that we are here to serve the Lord.  We raise the volume of its voice by prayer, the sacraments, and attending to the Word of God.