Let’s examine some of the themes that we discover in the Mass readings for the 23rd Sunday of the Year.
1st Reading – Wisdom 9:13-18b
Human lives are mortal, limited, and comprehend with difficulty.
God’s counsel in heaven transcends our reach.
Psalm – 90:3-6,12-17
“In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.”
We call upon the Almighty, for we are dust and merely a moment in God’s sight.
2nd Reading – Philemon 1:9-10,12-17
Paul, an old man and a prisoner, sends Onesimus back to Philemon.
Although Onesimus was a slave, Paul asks that he be received as a beloved brother.
Gospel – Luke 14:25-33
Jesus speaks to the crowds, reminding them that to follow him means putting aside one’s own life.
The Lord offers the examples of waging war and a construction project in order to make it clear that they must know the cost of discipleship before they commit to Christ.
Jesus offers a parable that challenges us to live the gift of our lives with all the intensity and ingenuity we can apply to our own unique circumstances.
Psalm 139 reveals our transparency before God, inviting us to acknowledge our faults and call upon the Lord for the strength, grace, and forgiveness we need.
Paul reminds us that we proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ through clear and godly speech that is highlighted by the gentle compassion of our hearts.
Jesus teaches a hard lesson that it is not enough to know merely facts about him; a true relationship demands that we spend time and effort to encounter the Lord in this life so that we can be with him forever in heaven.
Three Great Things 