The Puppet Man
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”Ps. 90
Many people think they’re living their own lives, but in reality, they’re just being swept along by the current of the world-letting it tell them what to value, what to chase, what to love, what to reject, even what to think and say. It’s like what we call “cancel culture” or the “woke” movement today-deciding what’s acceptable to say or think, and censoring anything that goes against it. When we live like that, we’re just puppets, repeating what the world tells us, chasing the same things everyone else does—power, possessions, pleasure. But none of those things ever truly satisfy. They’re just empty illusions.
If only Christians were that committed to following the guidance of the true Master of life—Christ alone—and letting Him tell us what’s right and wrong. Sadly, we’re often not as faithful as those who follow the ruler of this world-the devil-as Jesus warned many times.
The truth is, we all fall into this without even noticing. It’s easier to go with the flow than to swim against it. And maybe it’s because we crave approval from others—a trick of the devil. If we really knew God, we’d realize the only approval we truly need is His. He alone is the truth. He alone loves us so much that He gave His life for us, to give us eternal life.
But instead, it’s easy to live for appearances. If everyone values having more, people wear themselves out trying to get more—thinking that’s the ultimate goal in life. If the world says happiness is about laughing and partying, people follow along-even when they don’t feel like it-just to fit in. They pretend to be happy, even when deep down they’re empty, because they don’t know any other source of happiness beyond wealth, status, and pleasure.
And yes, this can happen to us as Christians too. There’s an old saying: “Where is Vincent going? Wherever everyone else is going.” We often do the same-just going along with the crowd. Even when it comes to voting, many people just go with what seems popular-or what the media says— because they want to be on the “winning side.” Thinking for ourselves seems harder than just following the herd.
That’s why we need to take a hard look at our lives. Do we really have faith-or are we just pretending for the sake of appearances? Would you die for your faith? If persecution came, would you deny Christ to save your life? If so, that shows our faith isn’t real-because true faith knows eternal life is ours in Christ.
Faith is only real when it shows in obedience to God-even to the point of death, out of love. That’s the only way we’ll be truly free from the idols of this passing world and its empty promises- because our hearts will be set on Heaven.
Weekly Readings
Sunday: Eccl 1:2; 2:21-23/Ps 90:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17 (1)/Col 3:1-5, 9-11/Lk 12:13-21
Monday: Nm 11:4b-15/Ps 81:12-13, 14-15, 16-17/Mt 14:13-21
Tuesday: Nm 12:1-13/Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 6cd-7, 12-13/Mt 14:22-36 or Mt 15:1-2, 10-14
Wednesday: Dn 7:9-10, 13-14/Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 9/2 Pt 1:16-19/Lk 9:28b-36
Thursday: Nm 20:1-13/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9/Mt 16:13-23
Friday: Dt 4:32-40/Ps 77:12-13, 14-15, 16 and 21/Mt 16:24-28
Saturday: Dt 6:4-13/Ps 18:2-3a, 3bc-4, 47 and 51/Mt 17:14-20
Next Sunday: Wis 18:6-9/Ps 33:1, 12, 18-19, 20-22 (12b)/Heb 11:1-2, 8-19 or 11:1-2, 8-12/ Lk 12:32-48 or 12:35-40
Observances for the Week
Sunday: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday: St. John Vianney, Priest
Tuesday: The Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major
Wednesday: The Transfiguration of the Lord
Thursday: St. Sixtus II, Pope, and Companions, Martyrs; St. Cajetan, Priest
Friday: St. Dominic, Priest
Saturday: St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin and Martyr
Next Sunday: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
