The Word today, 23C
- Admin
- Sep 6
- 3 min read
September 08 - September 13, 2025
Birthday of the BVM
Micah 5:1-4 This is a delightful reading for the feast and invites meditation on all God has done for us in Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the Blessed Virgin.
Or: Romans 8:28-30 This part of the great chapter 8 of Romans underlines God’s providential grace to all. When it says the Son is the eldest of many brothers and sisters, this point to the inclusion of the Gentiles.
Matthew 1:1-16,18-23 Perhaps not many will choose the long form of this reading (the short version even drops v. 17!). There are benefits, however. From the fractured stories of generations comes Jesus, who is able to help us precisely because he is one of us.
St Ciaran, abbot
Colossians 2:6-15 The background to the reading must be (1) some kind of philosophy (probably some kind of Gnoticism) and (2) a group imposing traditional Jewish practices. The writer is not lacking in directness!
Luke 6:12-19 Our reading is a very good illustration of the importance of prayer in Luke.
St Peter Claver
Colossians 3:1-11 Being a believer implies choices, sometimes very stark ones. This reading contrasts our “old” life before and our “new” life in Christ.
Luke 6:27-38 We are more accustomed to hearing the Beatitudes (the “be-attitudes”?) in Matthew’s formulation. However, the three short beatitudes here (the fourth is an expansion) with their matching three “woes” have even more power.
Colossians 3:12-17 Today we hear a thrilling reading. How are we to live as Christians? How are we to grow as Christians? This short reading may give us new energy.
Luke 6:27-38 Here we touch the core teaching of Jesus as he invites us to love our enemies. The special word of love in the New Testament—agapē—means attending to the well-being of the other without any expected of return or reward. Such simplicity, such goodness of heart is both a gift (a grace) and the fruit of conversion of life.
The Most Holy Name of Mary; St Ailbe, bishop
1 Timothy 1:1-2,12-14 Starting today and for all of next week, we read from 1 Timothy. This letter is often—not always—regarded as Deutero-pauline, that is, within the Pauline tradition, not by the apostle himself, reflecting later conditions and questions. Today, we hear a late reflection on that great event, the conversion of St Paul. As you will hear, the language is not really that of the apostle himself.
Luke 6:39-42 Any DIY carpenters listening will see the point—as did Jesus himself, the carpenter. The exaggeration of plank (!) is both humorous and in deadly earnest.
St John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor
1 Timothy 1:15-17 Even if only in the names of Paul, this reading uses Paul’s experience to make plain again the offer of salvation to all without distinction. The whole purpose of Jesus was not to condemn but rather to save.
Luke 6:43-49 Today, any farmers or gardeners will get the point without difficulty. The second illustration from building calls for a little background. Originally, it referred to a wadi, a dry river bed, in the Middle East. Such river beds are subject to flash floods which sweep everything before them. To build on rock means safely, away from the potential flood. To build on soil means to build in the most risky, not to say foolish, location. Luke has adjusted the story to other buildings conditions, bringing things up to date.
References
-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025bz, September 7). Twenty-third Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090725.cfm
-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings
Comments