Friday, September 11, 2026

 

Friday of the Twenty-third Week in ordinary Time

(I Timothy 1:1-2.12-14; Luke 6:39-42)

Twenty-five years have passed since the day of ignominy.  On September 11, 2001, a score of Muslim terrorists shocked the most powerful nation on earth.  They caused the death of approximately 3000 inhabitants of the United States by crashing four hijacked passenger jets into three fully occupied office buildings.  Of course, the nation responded to the outrage with the result of 300 times as many deaths in several Muslim countries over the years.

In today’s gospel Jesus speaks as a teacher and prophet.  He tells his disciples to remove from their eyes whatever causes them to hate others.  Whether it is fear or prejudice, they must remove it so that they might see everyone as a brother or sister.

How would he judge the clash of civilizations between radical Islam and postmodern western culture?  He would likely condemn the use of violence as wicked. Then he would invite all parties involved to introspection and dialogue.   He would tell Muslims that all human beings must be respected with the full range of rights declared by the United Nations almost eighty years ago.  He would instruct the West to open their eyes to see how lust, selfishness, and greed are eroding families and communities.  Greater, more irredeemable tragedy will come unless all reform their ways to promote love in truth and justice in action.

Thursday, September 10, 2026

 

Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 8:1b-7.11-13; Luke 6:27-38)

St. Paul’s intention in saying that “knowledge inflates with pride, but love builds up” is somewhat obscure.  He seems to mean about the same as the famous line of the English poet, Alexander Pope:

“A little learning is a dangerous thing;

Drink deep, or test not the Pierian spring:

There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain” …

 

Having learned only a little, some think that they know a lot.  They should heed Socrates, one of the wisest people who ever lived.  He told listeners that the more he knew, the more he realized that he did not know.

Paul is not giving his readers a theory of knowledge.  Rather, he wants them to value love more than knowledge or anything else.  He will draw out this lesson later in the letter.  Here Paul is warning that those who pride themselves with knowing what others don’t know should take care.  They may do or say something that will cause the downfall of a brother or sister in Christ.  If this happens, they will have to answer to God.

For love of Christ and neighbor, we should avoid words and actions that may cause others to sin.  Sometimes we do so without it being our intention.  We may only want to please ourselves.  But this is unacceptable for members of Christ’s Church.  As parts of his Body, we cannot do or say anything without affecting other parts.

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

 

Memorial of Saint Peter Claver, priest

(I Corinthians 7:25-31; Luke 6:20-26)

If ever there was a people hungry, thirsty, and maltreated, it was the African slaves transported in cargo ships to serve on plantations across the Americas.  Historians tell of the ships being vastly overcrowded with many dying on route.  To those who take care of victims such as these Jesus directs his sermon in today’s gospel.

Among the few who responded to the Lord’s urgency was St. Peter Claver.  This Spanish Jesuit went aboard slave ships anchored in Cartagena, Colombia, to bring some relief to the many Africans being enslaved.  He not only administered bread and water but also taught the people catechism so that they could join the Church and receive salvation.

Disgracefully people are still being enslaved today.  The sex trade has led to many women and children being taken from their families and forced to commit dehumanizing, sinful acts.  Law enforcement around the world must pursue the perpetrators of these crimes.  We must not participate in the trade it obliquely by viewing pornography.  Of course, prayer for the victims and advocacy against the slave trade are also in order.

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

 

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

(Micah 5:1-4a; Matthew 1:18-23)

There is a lovely Orthodox Christmas hymn that brings out the meaning of today’s feast.  The hymn begins by asking what would be a suitable gift from humans to the newborn Savior.  It reviews the gifts of other creatures: the angels give a hymn, the heavens, a star; the shepherds, their wonder; and the earth a cave.  Then it pronounces the greatest gift of all.  It is the human gift of a virgin mother.

The hymn exemplifies the synergy between the divine and human.  God has provided His Son while humans have cooperated by providing a mother without whom the saving act of Christ could not have taken place.

Mary is not God.  She does not merit worship. But she may be called the greatest of all humans besides the Savior himself.  She merits our veneration and reflection.  For this reason we celebrate her birth today.

Monday, September 7, 2026

 

Monday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

(I Corinthians 5:1-8; Luke 6:6-11)

The sin of incest angers St. Paul in today’s reading (from the First Letter to the Corinthians).  He notes that the sin has already caused foolish boasting probably over its tolerance of an outrageous act.  Realizing that as a virus can kill the body, permissiveness of scandalous sexual depravity may ruin a religious community, Paul calls for immediate action. 

He orders the community to deliver the culprit “to Satan.”  He means that they expel the man from the community and report him to civil authorities.  Although sexual immorality was rampant in Greek society, incest was not.  As the local government would prosecute the man, the community would pray for his soul.

Society in our time has accepted fornication and other types of sexual sin.  It has always been a difficult issue to address. Even regular members of the Church sometimes turn a blind eye toward it.  We should see it for what it is: a submission to passion that can have harmful effects on the community as well as the individuals involved. It deserves stigmatization. It is also important to remember that Christ has redeemed us from this sin and all others.  His grace will strengthen us in temptation and forgive us in repentance.