Not everyone listened to the words of Jesus, and like the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum we have the opportunity to take the message of Christ to heart…or experience the natural consequences that result.
The Lord sent out disciples in pairs, recognizing that we work best when we work together. Sometimes we give support, and sometimes we receive it, but through it all we grow in strength and wisdom when we unite our lives to Jesus Christ.
Whatever we do for one another, we do it for the Lord. The Cathedral school kids learn that both our good and bad actions toward others are treated as if they were done to Jesus. May we take this insight to heart as we offer our lives!
The people in the readings were tempted, even as they were striving to follow God. They show us that we need to be vigilant against temptation as we engage our faith in Christ with the support of one another.
The feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael reminds us that God sends us help and encouragement. May the power of the angels strengthen us on earth until the day when we join them in heaven.
The well known passage from Ecclesiastes reminds us that we must regularly discern how to use our time. And if, like St. Peter, we acknowledge Jesus as Lord, then we have a daily opportunity to use every precious moment as a gift from God that is guided by the teaching of Christ.
King Herod heard rumors and wanted to know more about Jesus, reminding us that knowledge alone about the Lord is not sufficient. Rather, how we apply what we’ve learned reveals the difference between personal growth and idle curiosity.
The kids at Cathedral School are reminded by the Lord’s command to love one another, even when it is hard. That begs a question: who in your life is a challenge to love today? Ask God for the grace to love them as the Lord loves us.
The Psalm response invites us to accept God’s guidance as we carry out the Lord’s commands. It’s not enough to know our faith; the real test is when we put it into practice each and every day.