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SOCL, 26C

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Sunday September 28, 2025


See


Irony and sarcasm somewhat resemble each other, with some notable differences. Sarcasm, easily enough achieved, is often wounding. On the other hand, irony, using “cognitive dissonance”, prompts insight and triggers memories. There is a good example in today’s Gospel: “if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Will they really? By the time of writing, Jesus himself had already risen—and still conversion was as remote as ever. With all our convictions and doctrines, what is holding us back?


Listen



Reflect


(Luke 16: 19-31)


The first of the faults attributed to the rich man is his insensitivity to the abject poverty of those around him. When have you discovered that it is when you are aware of the needs of those around you and seek to make some response that you bring out the best in yourself ?


The second fault attributed to the rich man is the way he ignored the word of God coming through Moses and the prophets. How have the gospels, the scriptures or your faith opened you up to a deeper and more satisfying perspective on life?


Some people look to the spectacular for a sign of God’s presence and action. For Jesus, the lessons we need are not to be sought in the spectacular, but in the ordinary things of everyday life. Where have you found sacraments of God’s presence in the world around you?


Pray


O God of justice, hear our cry and save us. Make us heed your word to the prophets; rouse us to the demand of the gospel and impel us to carry it out. We make our prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.

 
 
 

The Word today, 26C

ree

September 29 - October 04, 2025


Sts Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, archangels


Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 Daniel has a vision of the heavenly throne, including angels. The passage is very important for understanding Jesus’ use of the expression “Son of Man.”


John 1:47-51 Two important hints are buried in this reading. Firstly, in rabbinic tradition, the tree of knowledge was understood to be have been a fig tree (being the first species mentioned). In a transferred sense, sitting “under a fig tree” meant reading the Torah, that is, already on the spiritual quest. The heavens opened with the angels ascending and descending evokes Jacob’s ladder in Genesis 28:10-19. Jacob recurs in John 2-4, perhaps a later echo of restoration of Israel (= Jacob) going back to Jesus. In the context, it points to Jesus’ opening the path to God for all.


St Jerome, priest, doctor and biblical scholar


Zechariah 8:20-23 Zechariah offers us a delightful portrait of faithful Jews attracting others to God. This is our calling as well today.


Luke 9:51-56 As Luke presents the story of Jesus, today’s reading represents a turning point in the story. Begins here in 9:51 and reaches a climax fully nine chapters later in 19:41. Luke uses this journey to bring together extensive and profound teaching on discipleship.


St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, virgin and doctor


Nehemiah 2:1-8 Continuing the theme of reconstruction, Nehemiah requests permission to return and to be involved. The attachment to the faith is very moving.


Luke 9:57-62 The Gospel reading is a warning: discipleship is costly, costing “not less than everything.” The absolute demand cut across deeply embedded cultural and human values, such as one’s duties to one’s family.


The Guardian Angels


Nehemiah 8:1-12 This scene is a very famous moment of reconsecration and renewal. Notice that Ezra gives the sense in Aramaic, evidently because the ordinary people no longer understood Hebrew.


Luke 10:1-12 The sending of the seventy(-two) is nowhere else reported in the Gospels, being unique to Luke. It is often thought to be an anticipation of the sending to the Gentiles, the second mission, in the Acts of the Apostles In any case, it is not too different from the sending of the Twelve, also empowered to do exactly what Jesus himself did.


Bl Columba Marmion, abbot


Baruch 1:15-22 (Baruch purports to be written at the time of the Exile by Jeremiah’s secretary. However, most scholars believe it was written in the second century BC.) Our reading today reflects back on the catastrophe of the Exile in Babylon. Consistent with other prophets, the people must take part the blame, even if outside forces—such as the mighty Babylonian Empire—were decisive. Something similar might be said about the church’s reaction to recent crises: there are indeed outside forces but also internal culpability.


Luke 10:13-16 Jesus—in full prophetic mode—utters a sharp condemnation to some towns, because the failed to recognise the time of salvation. Rather than leave it safely in the past, we could ask, what would Jesus say today to us?


St Francis of Assisi, religious


Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29 There are two voices in this reading. At the start and at the finish, God speaks encouragingly to Israel. In the middle, Jerusalem addresses her neighbours. Again, a degree of responsibility is openly accepted.


Luke 10:17-24 The Seventy-two return rejoicing. More important is the prayer of Jesus, an exclamation of praise, which sounds like it might come from John’s Gospel. The relationship may be the other way around: this “Johannine” moment may have given rise to the distinctive vocabulary of the Fourth Gospel.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cf, September 28). Twenty-sixth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092825.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings


 
 
 

One another, 26C

ree

September 28, 2025



Friends in Christ, God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dear to us as our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions on behalf of the church and the world:


For the Church: that we may be a people of virtue and profess with both our words and deeds God’s love for and presence with the human family: let us pray to the Lord.


For all disciples of Jesus: that we may put on the mind of Christ and open the gates that isolate and protect us from all who are suffering or who disturb our complacency: let us pray to the Lord.


For listening hearts: that we may hear the cry of the prophets and the message of the Gospel so that we may understand people and situations as God does: let us pray to the Lord.


For compassion: that we may see and hear the sufferings of our sisters and brothers who are enslaved by poverty and sacrificially respond to their need: let us pray to the Lord.


For all who are chained by their possessions: that God will free their hearts and open them to value life, relationships, and service: let us pray to the Lord.


For all who live in complete poverty, particularly orphaned children, those who live on garbage piles, and for those recovering from natural disasters: that God will open new possibilities for them and open our eyes to see the needs that exist: let us pray to the Lord.


For a deepening ability to hear the voice of God: that our minds and hearts may recognize the Word of God spoken to us in the Scriptures, through our relationships, and in the events of our lives: let us pray to the Lord.


For a closing of the abyss between rich and poor in our cities, nation, and the world: that we may use our time, talent, and treasure to develop new opportunities for the poor and marginalized around us: let us pray to the Lord.


For all who care for the poor and needy: that God will guide them to recognize the person who is before them and help them to share God’s love with them: let us pray to the Lord.


For the upcoming pan-Amazonian Synod of Bishops: that the Spirit will guide them in renewing the faith and the structures of the faith communities so that all may be fuller disciples: let us pray to the Lord.


For safety and courtesy on roadways: that God will help all drivers to be attentive on the roads and have patience with those who make mistakes: let us pray to the Lord.


For healing in our cities and neighborhoods: that Spirit of God will free us from the shackles of racism and guide us in finding new ways to promote the common good: let us pray to the Lord.


For the work of the United Nations: that God’s spirit will help nations overcome suspicion, find new understand and opportunities to cooperate, and bring an end to violent conflicts: let us pray to the Lord.


For all who are suffering from climate change, particularly the people of island nations and the Artic regions: that God will guide us in finding ways to stabilize the environment and protect those who are at risk: let us pray to the Lord.


For peace: that God will touch hearts and open minds so that leaders may advance through the gates of peace and end the abyss of bloodshed, terrorism, and destruction that divides the human family: let us pray to the Lord.


Hear our prayers, God of power, and through the ministry of your Son free us from the grip of the tomb, that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.


References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025cf, September 28). Twenty-sixth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092825.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.


 
 
 
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