The Exaltation of the Holy Cross - Feast Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 77(78):1-2,34-38 John 3:13-17 HE WAS RAISED UP HIGH SO THAT WE MIGHT COME TO HIM Today’s feast commemorates the dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, a site many believe is where Jesus was crucified. At this location, crosses have been uncovered, one of which may have been the very cross on which Jesus was believed to have died. The day also marks the return of the Holy Cross to Jerusalem after it was previously taken by the Persians. This feast is often referred to as the Triumph of the Cross, but the deeper meaning associated with the word “exaltation” is also appropriate. The readings invite us to reflect on the cross’s significance within the divine plan of salvation and Jesus’ resurrection, which ultimately elevates us to eternal communion with Him. The first reading (Numbers 21:4b-9) can be seen as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ crucifixion, depicting Moses raising a fi...
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Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Ecclus 27.30 – 28.7; Ps 102; Rom 14.7-9; Mt 18.21-35 If someone nurses anger against another, can he then demand compassion from the Lord? During Mass, we begin by saying, “I confess to almighty God…that I have sinned,” feeling capable of this affirmation with everyone else present. But how sincere are we, and do we truly intend to act on it? How frequently do we actually go to confession? Likely not as often as our conscience urges. We often shy away from the sacrament due to guilt, shame, fear of judgment, or a false view that prayer alone suffices. We prefer to think we can manage our weaknesses and avoid exposing our sins, especially to a priest. Though prayers of contrition are valuable, they are not the same as confession. Jesus gave His disciples, and through them the Church's priests, the power to judge, bind, and loose—highlighting the importance of this sacrament over mere pr...
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Saturday of week 23 in Ordinary Time 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 · Psalm 115(116):12-13,17-18 Luke 6:43-49 A disciple humbly submits to the guidance of the master in order to acquire knowledge and to teach others the truths learned. Christ is our master, and without learning from Him, we risk leading others astray. This occurs when individuals fail to practice what they preach and do not live according to their professed beliefs. A life characterized by double standards is an inauthentic form of Christianity and constitutes hypocrisy. Today, the Lord calls upon us to reject hypocrisy and to reflect introspectively on the quality of our witness. Each of us must ask ourselves: How consistently do I live according to my professed beliefs? What kind of results am I producing? Are these outcomes of high quality or merely average? Ultimately, it is not about the titles we hold in society, but about the contributions we make to humanity as Christians. If our lives and deaths serve ...
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Thursday of week 23 in Ordinary Time 1 Cor. 8:1-7,11-13 · Ps.138(139):1-3,13-14,23-24 Luke 6:27-38 You may inquire why another individual's conscience should constrain your liberty. As stated in 1 Corinthians 10:29, “The fact is that whether you eat or drink — whatever you do — you should do all for the glory of God," 1 Corinthians 10:31. Our love for others, including those who are ungrateful and selfish toward us, must be characterized by the same kindness and mercy that God has extended to us. *STOP CALLING YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN WHILE YOU ARE KEEPING ENEMIES IN YOUR HEART!* *(BY FR. BENJAMIN BRODRICKS)* *HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (SEPTEMBER 10, 2026)* *1Cor.8:1b-7, 11-13; Ps.139; Luke 6:27-38.* *INTRODUCTION* My dear brothers and sisters, one of the hardest things in life is to love somebody who has hurt us. It is easy to love the person who greets us, helps us, respects us and speaks well of us. But what about the ...
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Friday of week 23 in Ordinary Time 1 Corinthians 9:16-19,22-27 Psalm 83(84):3-6,12 Luke 6:39-42 May Christ heal us Jesus employs the parables of the blind leading the blind and of the speck and the log in one’s eye to caution his disciples against spiritually blind leaders who may cause others to stumble into danger. More specifically, he emphatically instructs them to refrain from judging others when their own sins may be significantly greater. In both cases, removing one’s own “log” is arduous, demanding brutal honesty and self-awareness. It necessitates profound vulnerability. After confronting the pain of their own woundedness and brokenness, and experiencing the healing grace of God, an individual's approach to another person’s "speck" or wound transforms entirely. They no longer judge or view others with self-righteousness. Instead, grounded in their own woundedness and adopting a mentorship perspective, they offer help with a gentle, empathetic hand. The traditi...
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Wednesday of week 23 in Ordinary Time 1 Corinthians 7:25-31 · Psalm 44(45):11-12,14-17 Luke 6:20-26 May his blessings keep us In the sixth chapter of Luke’s gospel, Luke lists the apostles, then recounts their encounter with a large crowd gathered around Jesus. Our Lord gazes toward the disciples and delivers the Beatitudes to them. Luke further emphasizes that Jesus’ words are intended for those who hear—namely, the multitude, Luke’s readers, and ourselves. As positive messages, they cannot shame us nor are they meant to induce guilt. An important question we must continually consider is how we will respond to these words as we hear them again today.