25th Sunday of the Year – Troubled Times

Study:  Recall a time when you were overwhelmed by difficulty.  What got you through it?

Pray:  Call upon the Lord for the courage and strength to face your challenges.

Serve:  Is there someone you know who is struggling?  How can you offer your support?

25th Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Don’t you wish life would always be easy?  Wouldn’t it be great if challenges and obstacles disappeared with a simple thought?  What’s more, how about if evil, darkness, fear, and violence would vanish from the face of the earth?

I know: I will now wake up from my pleasant dream.  Since the dawn of creation evil and sin have been part of our world, and for this very reason Jesus Christ died and rose.  The death and resurrection of the Lord confronts the darkness  and shines with the light of faith.

As Christians we can thus recognize two fundamental principles:

• Evil and sin are part of the fabric of life
• Jesus Christ offers us salvation through his victory on the Cross

Simply put, this means that we have hope in the face of difficulty.  God continues to give grace and strength, empowering us to face our fears and engage life with the faith to continue in the presence of adversity.  We know that life is hard; we know that with the Lord’s help we can carry on.

Where do you find darkness and evil in your life right now?  Where do the difficulties and obstacles present themselves?  Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge these pitfalls and recognize how they tempt and distract us.

For the minute we understand our struggles, we are equipped with the knowledge to petition the Lord for the help we need.  What’s more, as we understand the struggles of those around us, we can reach out with love of Christ to support one another with sincerity and genuine assistance.

May we honestly confront the challenges of life, trusting in the Lord for the grace we need.