Who wants to receive eternal life?
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
“In every age, O Lord, you have been our refuge.”Ps. 90
If you knew that you were in a small boat being carried by the current towards a waterfall and a cliff, would you stay in that little boat? If you knew that eating that appetizing food would cause kidney stones, would you still eat it? If you knew that falling into that sin would cause cancer, would you fall? If you knew that giving in to that temptation would cause a stroke that could leave you bedridden or kill you, would you go for it? If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to go with both hands into the eternal fire that never goes out…
The reality is that Jesus came to show us the way to regain the paradise and eternal salvation we lost through sin and disobedience to God, and many don’t seem interested in receiving it. They look the other way, leave Jesus out and don’t want to know about Him, don’t listen to Him, or follow Him, not realizing they are off the path that leads to Life, which is only found in Him.
Maybe this happens because they don’t see the serious consequences of sin, of leaving Jesus out of their lives, and of giving in to their own selfishness and human foolishness. If the consequences of the harm were immediate and identifiable, they probably wouldn’t fall into sin or leave Jesus out. But God’s Word is very clear, as are the teachings of Jesus, and even though we don’t see it in our human blindness, we must believe everything Jesus tells us. The consequences of sin are real and serious, both for oneself and for others, both temporary and eternal. And we define sin as stepping out of Gods will.
By not believing in Jesus as the true God and Savior, they aren’t interested in seeking Him or getting to know Him, and therefore, they cannot love Him or follow Him, for they have chosen to believe the world, the devil, and selfish disorder, like Adam and Eve and many others who remain on the path of perdition, even though they could take the path of Life. It seems that many do not want to receive the Gift of divine Life that Christ came to offer us.
Despite the strong calls He made with His own life and His word. And without realizing that they are on a path worse than towards death, for Jesus spoke of eternal condemnation, using metaphors of suffering and pain, like fire, worms, lashes, gnashing of teeth… All of which Jesus came to save us from, enduring torture, humiliation, and death on the cross.
“Jesus said to him: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me.'”John 14:6
“I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”John 8:12
This means that whoever does not follow Him has chosen darkness and is on the side of destruction. God wants all of us to receive salvation; the invitation to the eternal banquet is for everyone, but many do not want to hear about it and reject it. Moses said: “I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put His spirit on them!”
Saint Francis of Assisi | October 4
Saint Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226) gave up a life of luxury for a life dedicated to Christianity after, as it is said, hearing the voice of God, who instructed him to rebuild the Christian church and live in poverty. He founded the Order of Friars Minor for men, the Order of Saint Clare for women, the Third Order of Saint Francis, and the Custody of the Holy Land.
Born in 1181 in Italy, Saint Francis of Assisi was known for drinking and partying in his youth. During a military expedition/battle between Assisi and Perugia, he was captured and imprisoned for ransom. He spent nearly a year in prison and began receiving visions from God. After his release from prison, Saint Francis of Assisi claimed to have heard the voice of Christ, who told him to restore the Christian Church and live a life of poverty. As a result, Saint Francis of Assisi abandoned his life of luxury and became devoted to the Catholic faith.
Today, Saint Francis of Assisi, known for his deep love of nature and animals, is the patron saint of the environment and animals. Every October, many animals are blessed in his honor on his feast day.
Weekly Readings
Sunday: Nm 11:25-29/Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 (9a)/Jas 5:1-6/Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Monday: Jb 1:6-22/Ps 17:1bcd, 2-3, 6-7/Lk 9: 46-50
Tuesday: Jb 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23/Ps 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8/Lk 9:51-56
Wednesday: Jb 9:1-12, 14-16/Ps 88:10bc-11, 12-13, 14-15/Mt 18:1-5, 10
Thursday: Jb 19:21-27/Ps 27:7-8a, 8b-9abc, 13-14/Lk 10:1-12
Friday: Jb 38:1, 12-21; 40:3-5/Ps 139:1-3, 7-8, 9-10, 13-14ab/Lk 10:13-16
Saturday: Jb 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17/Ps 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130/Lk 10:17-24
Next Sunday: Gn 2:18-24/Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5,6 (see 5)/Heb 2:9-11/Mk 10:2-16 or 10:2-12
Observances for the Week
Sunday: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Priesthood Sunday
Monday: St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Tuesday: St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
Wednesday: The Holy Guardian Angels
Friday: St. Francis of Assisi
Saturday: Saint Faustina Kowalska, Virgin; Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos, Priest
Next Sunday: 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Respect Life Sunday
