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Action over Words
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two sons. He came to the first and said, ‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’ He said in reply, ‘I will not,’ but afterwards changed his mind and went. The man came to the other son and gave the same order. He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir,’ but did not go. Which of the two did his father’s will?” Matthew 21:28–31
This parable must have been difficult for the chief priests and elders to hear, especially since it was clearly directed at them. In fact, after Jesus tells them a second parable, not included in today’s Gospel, we read, “although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet” (Matthew 21:46). It seems they dismissed Jesus’ words and His rebuke, but fear of public backlash, rather than fear of God’s judgment, kept them silent for a time.
In today’s Gospel, the first son represents the tax collectors and prostitutes, those who initially violated God’s law but later repented after hearing the preaching of John the Baptist and Jesus. The second son represents the chief priests and elders. After telling the parable, Jesus declares, “Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.”
Like the second son, the religious and civic leaders paid lip service to God’s law, but their actions did not align with its intent. They were hypocrites, blind to their own rejection of God’s saving Word, and they misled others by their outward piety and self-righteous attitudes.
Consider more carefully the reactions of the two sons. We might imagine that the second son, who said, “Yes, sir,” represents all who put on a false appearance of holiness. In the sight of others, they say the right things, but behind closed doors they fail to act.
The first son is markedly different. Though he initially responds with defiance—“I will not”—his conscience eventually moves him to do what is right. Some may wonder why Jesus didn’t include a third son, one who says “Yes, sir,” and then follows through. But Jesus likely omits such a son because all of us fall into one of the two categories He presents. Only our Blessed Mother obeyed perfectly in both word and deed from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception.
The first son becomes our model because each of us, in some way, struggles to enter into perfect obedience to God’s will. From childhood, we contend with what the Church calls concupiscence, the disordered tendency that arises from Original Sin. Though we are created good and in the image of God, our nature is wounded and inclined toward what is contrary to His will. The spiritual journey we undertake in this life is one in which grace slowly reorders our fallen inclinations and restores us to the obedience we are called to live.
Reflect today on the first son, and humbly see yourself in him. In what ways do you find it difficult to say “Yes” to God’s will right away? It is not a sin to struggle with obedience. This struggle is part of our fallen human nature. Like the first son, we must allow grace to work within us, forming our conscience and compelling us to act in accordance with God’s will, especially in the areas where we resist. When we allow grace to move us beyond our initial hesitation, we grow in virtue and become more like our Blessed Mother and our Lord Jesus, who both said “Yes” to the Father and followed through completely.
My obedient Lord, You and Your Blessed Mother always responded with wholehearted fidelity to the Father’s will, both in word and in deed. Grant me the grace to imitate Your example and to share in the very obedience You lived in union with Your Mother. Root out my fallen tendencies toward selfishness, and make me generous in charity, living in full accord with and in obedience to the Father’s glorious will. Jesus, I trust in You.
Severing Jealousy and Envy
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.” Mark 9:38–40
John’s concern that someone outside their group was casting out demons in Jesus’ name reflects a natural tendency toward exclusivity in religious practice and in many areas of life. He presumed that only those who followed Jesus visibly and closely, as the Twelve did, should share in His power. This situation exposes the subtle workings of both jealousy and envy.
Jealousy arises when we fear that something rightly ours—such as influence, recognition, or authority—is being threatened or taken by another. John and the disciples likely felt that this man, who did not belong to their inner group, was intruding on their role.
Envy, by contrast, involves sorrow at the good of another. The disciples were not only protective of their own status but also disturbed by the outsider’s apparent spiritual success. Rather than rejoicing that demons were being cast out in Jesus’ name, they resented that it was being done by someone who did not “follow us.” Jesus confronts this dual error by affirming that any good done in His name is not a threat to their mission but a sign of God’s work beyond their limited perspective.
Think about your own life, first through the lens of jealousy. Are there times you feel threatened by another person’s role, influence, or recognition, especially in areas in which you’ve labored or taken initiative? Perhaps someone else received praise for a good work that you also contributed to, or perhaps someone has been given responsibilities you once held. Jealousy often manifests itself through justifications like “fairness” or “order,” but deep down it is a fear of being displaced or diminished.
Next, humbly consider any struggle you might have with envy. Have you ever felt burdened by someone else’s spiritual success, gifts, or blessings, especially when they seem undeserved or unexpected? Envy poisons the soul by turning the blessings of another into a source of sadness or frustration. It prevents us from seeing God’s hand in others and distorts our perception of His justice.
As Jesus continues, He gives three very stern warnings that should help those who struggle with jealousy and envy to shed those tendencies. He says that if your hand, foot, or eye causes you to sin, it is better to cut it off or pluck it out than to be thrown into Gehenna. Though this language is metaphorical, the message is clear: Sin must be dealt with decisively and without delay. Jealousy and envy, though often hidden, are spiritually deadly because they strike at the heart of charity. These sins do not merely harm relationships, they darken the soul and oppose the love of God. Jesus urges us to take radical measures to rid ourselves of anything that fosters such interior corruption.
Reflect today on any struggle you have with jealousy or envy. Jesus’ radical language is a call to identify and sever the roots of sinful comparison, resentment, and self-centered ambition. Is there a friendship, a habit of thought, or a subtle behavior that feeds these tendencies in your heart? Jesus is asking for spiritual purification. Just as a diseased limb may need to be amputated to preserve the body, so too any affection or attachment that leads to jealousy or envy must be severed for the sake of eternal life. Reflect on this powerful imagery as an invitation to freedom and healing, so that you are not working against our Lord, but with Him and with all who labor for the building up of His glorious Kingdom.
Most generous Lord, You call all people to share in Your glory and power for the building up of Your Kingdom of grace and mercy. Humble my heart and help me to embrace my role in Your divine mission. May I always see myself as a member of Your Body, united with all who serve You, rather than as an exclusive laborer in Your vineyard. Fill my heart with compassion, humility, and gratitude toward all who work in Your name, so that, in us, Your Kingdom may flourish and bear abundant fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.
Loving Christ in the Poor
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Jesus said to the Pharisees: “There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham.” Luke 16:19–22
Are you rich? If not, do you dream of worldly riches? Many people do. And if you were to become rich, how would you use your wealth? Would you dress in the finest clothes, live in luxury, purchase many playthings, and indulge in the finest foods? For many, material wealth brings with it these very temptations.
Jesus speaks frequently about money throughout the Gospels. Though God wills that we use material goods to meet our basic needs and care for others, extravagant living can be spiritually dangerous. It often blinds us to the sufferings of others and leads to a subtle but serious injustice. Quoting Saint John Chrysostom, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs.” (CCC 2446)
This teaching may be difficult to accept, especially for those who enjoy abundance. In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes clear that divine revelation alone is sufficient to awaken our conscience to this truth. He does this through a vivid and striking parable involving Abraham, Moses, a poor man named Lazarus, and an unnamed rich man.
Among Jesus’ parables, this is the only one in which He uses a proper name. The name Lazarus means “God is my help” and may have been included to personify the suffering of the poor. There is indeed much suffering in our world, but it is not an abstract, general problem. It is real and personal. Those who suffer are not faceless masses; they are individuals with dignity and worth, even if the world treats them as valueless. It’s easy to look down on the weak, poor, addicted, homeless, and suffering and to see them as unimportant or even as failures.
This parable, however, reveals the opposite. Lazarus’ physical condition is pitiable: He is homeless, hungry, and covered with sores. The added details that he longed to eat the scraps from the rich man’s table and that dogs used to lick his wounds vividly portray his misery.
In contrast, the unnamed rich man is dressed in purple—the color of royalty—and fine linen. He dines sumptuously, and his home is likely extravagant. The fact that he remains unnamed has the opposite implication. To live as he did is to risk losing one’s identity, personhood, and eternal dignity. His anonymity suggests that he could easily represent any one of us who lives with similar indifference toward the suffering of others.
Which person would you prefer to be? The parable is clear: It is far better to be poor Lazarus than it is to be the indulgent rich man because of the eternal consequences. Though this truth may be difficult to accept and live by, we must carefully heed Abraham’s final words to the rich man, who, from the netherworld, pleads for Lazarus to be sent to warn his brothers, lest they also come to this place of torment. Abraham replies, “If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” In other words, the message contained in the Old Testament—and even more so in the Gospel—is fully sufficient to teach us the foolishness of extravagant and selfish living. It also reveals that the path of humility, suffering, and trust in God, as was embodied by Lazarus, is the one that leads to eternal comfort in the bosom of Abraham.
Reflect today on this challenging parable and apply it to your own life and desires. What do you seek in this life? Do you overlook the suffering of those around you, or are you generous, seeing the dignity of those in need and doing all you can to alleviate their suffering? Let this Gospel be your warning by letting it speak to your conscience. Choose the path that leads not to worldly excess, but to the eternal rewards of Heavenly joy.
My humble Lord, in many ways You personified Lazarus by being born into poverty and by accepting the wounds of the Cross. May I always be attentive to You in the poor and suffering of this world. Help me to see them, to recognize their dignity, and to love and serve You in them. Jesus, I trust in You.
Embracing and Becoming the Least
Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.” Luke 9:46–48
The Twelve Apostles had left everything behind to follow Jesus. Their lives had been radically transformed. As they accompanied Him on His mission, they heard the very voice of God preach and teach. They witnessed His divine power as He performed miracles and cast out demons. And yet, today’s Gospel reveals that they still struggled with a common weakness of fallen human nature: ambition. They argued among themselves about who was the greatest.
Jesus, though surely sorrowful over their foolish dispute, responded not with rebuke but with merciful instruction. He addressed the intention of their hearts by offering a striking lesson as He placed a child at His side. That child became a living parable—a model of true greatness in the eyes of God.
In many cultures today, children are cherished, protected, and seen as possessing great dignity. Parents work hard to ensure their children know their value. But in first-century Israel, the perception of children was quite different. While loved by their families, children were socially insignificant. Their high mortality rate and inability to contribute to the household’s livelihood often rendered them overlooked or dismissed. For Jesus to place a child at the center of His teaching and to equate receiving that child with receiving Himself would have been both startling and countercultural.
In this act, Jesus uproots worldly standards of greatness. In His Kingdom, true greatness is not found in status, success, or acclaim. It is found in humility, simplicity, and openness of heart. To welcome the lowly, the unnoticed, and the vulnerable in Jesus’ name is to welcome Jesus Himself. And to welcome Jesus is to welcome the Father who sent Him.
Consider whom you most readily welcome and embrace. Teenagers often dream of meeting the rich and famous. Adults may strive for social status or recognition. In truth, we are not so different from the Apostles, who desired esteem among their peers and to be chosen while others are set aside.
Jesus offers us two essential lessons through this living parable. First, like our Lord, we must love and embrace the lowly and the weak. Jesus was not drawn to the status of the Pharisees or the social elites. He found joy in embracing the child, the sinner, the tax collector, the leper, the crippled, the blind, and the poor. These were the ones who, because of their low status, were often more humble and receptive. If we wish to be like our Lord, we must seek out the humble and the lowly, for it was to such souls that He was drawn.
Second, we are not only called to embrace the lowly, we are called to become the lowly. We must become like children: dependent, vulnerable, humble, and easily overlooked in the eyes of the world. Why? Because those are the very ones Jesus embraced. And if we desire to rest in His arms, we must take the lowest place, trusting that it is there that true greatness is found.
Reflect today on the countercultural lesson Jesus taught and apply it to your own life. Turn your eyes to the weakest, humblest, and most vulnerable. Allow grace to draw you to these simple souls. Run to the sinner and outcast. Then, don’t stop there. Strive also to live in that same humility and dependence. Turn from worldly views of greatness and embrace Jesus’ view. Become like a child, embrace the weakest among you, and our Lord will embrace you.
Most loving Lord, though You loved all people with the perfection of charity, Your mercy and compassion poured forth, especially upon the weakest, most humble, and lowliest. Please fill my heart with that same love You so perfectly exemplified. Help me also to heed Your warning that I must become humble and lowly like a child in order to receive the greatness of Your eternal embrace. Jesus, I trust in You.
Divine Determination
Tuesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem, and he sent messengers ahead of him. On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem. Luke 9:51–53
Jesus had begun His final journey to Jerusalem, where He would freely offer Himself as the Sacrificial Lamb, shedding His blood for the salvation of souls. Today’s Gospel marks the beginning of what is often called “Luke’s Travel Narrative,” a ten-chapter account of Jesus’ solemn ascent to the Holy City. This is more than a physical journey—it is a deeply spiritual and moral one. Each step brings Him closer to His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. He moves forward with full awareness of what awaits Him, embracing it with perfect obedience to the Father and unfailing love for humanity.
The phrase “he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” is more literally rendered, “he set his face toward Jerusalem.” It’s a vivid, visible image of Christ’s inner resolve. We can picture Him with eyes fixed, chin lifted, His heart anchored in the mission entrusted to Him. His every step was governed by divine purpose and resolve.
As He begins this final journey, Jesus sends disciples ahead into a Samaritan village to prepare for His arrival. Samaria, situated between Galilee and Jerusalem, was often avoided by Jews due to longstanding hostility. Though the Samaritans revered the Torah and shared a common ancestry with the Jews, they rejected Jerusalem as the center of worship, having built their own temple on Mount Gerizim. This religious division bred deep animosity.
When the villagers learned Jesus was heading to Jerusalem, they refused to receive Him—not merely rejecting the man, but what His destination symbolized. To welcome Him would have implied accepting Jerusalem’s spiritual authority, something they were unwilling to do. In their religious and nationalistic pride, they closed their hearts to the very Messiah they awaited.
When James and John, nicknamed “Sons of Thunder,” proposed calling down fire from heaven in anger—as Elijah had done—Jesus rebuked them. Their reaction flowed not from righteous zeal but from wounded pride. Jesus would not allow such personal offense to distract from His divine mission. His focus remained fixed on Jerusalem. Any detour, however emotionally justified, was simply a distraction from the path to the Cross.
This passage offers powerful lessons. Life is not meant to be an aimless journey; it requires purpose and direction. Like Jesus, we must set our faces toward our own “Jerusalem”—toward Heaven—traveling the path of prayer, sacrifice, and obedience to the Father’s will. This life is not the destination, but the road that leads to it. It is a preparation for the Cross and the glory that follows. Our daily Christian journey must be filled with great resolve.
We also learn from James and John’s misstep. When we follow Christ closely, we will encounter rejection, misunderstanding, and opposition. It is tempting to react with indignation, but such responses only distract us from our mission. Jesus would not allow an injustice to derail His purpose, and neither should we. Distractions, even those cloaked in religious zeal, must be rejected if they pull us away from fidelity to God’s will and the path of sacrificial love.
Reflect today on Christ’s unwavering resolve. His divine determination should guide your own journey. Are you willing to “set your face” toward the cross God asks you to carry? When you encounter resistance or rejection, will you stay the course—or let pride and frustration distract you from your call? Let your heart be conformed to the Heart of Christ and walk forward with Him, undeterred, undistracted, and full of love.
My determined Lord, once Your final journey to Jerusalem had begun, nothing could distract You from Your goal. Please instill within me the same sense of purpose and mission that guided Your life. May I see this life only as a journey, never as the end. With my eyes fixed on the sacrificial love to which I am called, may nothing ever lead me astray—especially anger and pride in the face of injustice. Jesus, I trust in You.
Do Not Delay
Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus answered him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” Luke 9:57–58
As Jesus made His final journey toward Jerusalem, where He would offer Himself as the Sacrificial Lamb on the Cross, someone approached Him with a bold declaration: “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus does not reject the offer but immediately reveals the radical demands of discipleship: “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” By saying this, He makes clear that following Him requires detachment from earthly comforts and complete reliance on divine providence.
Today’s Gospel presents two more encounters that highlight the uncompromising nature of Christ’s call. In the first, Jesus invites a man to follow Him. The man responds with what seems a reasonable request: He wishes first to bury his deceased father. Yet Jesus replies, “Let the dead bury their dead. But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God.”
The third encounter is similar. Another man expresses his desire to follow Jesus but asks first to return home to say farewell to his family. The request seems understandable, but Jesus replies, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God.” In both instances, Jesus insists that discipleship requires a decisive break from anything that could distract from or delay one’s commitment.
The context of these conversations is essential. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, fully aware that the Cross awaited Him. His invitation to follow was not simply a call to travel with Him, but a summons to embrace the path of sacrificial love. Each person was challenged to respond immediately and wholeheartedly, without allowing even good human priorities to take precedence over divine ones. In this light, Jesus makes it clear that discipleship cannot be delayed, compromised, or approached with divided intentions. The Kingdom of God demands urgency, total commitment, and a willingness to forsake all for the sake of Christ.
This passage does not suggest we reject love or duty toward family. Rather, Jesus’ surprising responses invite us to examine how fully we are committed to Him. Even with fidelity to His teachings, daily prayer, and the sacramental life, distractions will still threaten our wholehearted devotion. Sometimes even good things, if not rightly ordered, become obstacles to grace.
Since the Gospel does not give us the full background of these three potential disciples, we must interpret Jesus’ words carefully. For example, some have suggested that the man who wished to bury his father was not referring to someone recently deceased, but to a future time when his father would die. If so, the delay itself reveals the problem. True discipleship requires immediate trust and surrender. Importantly, this call to follow Jesus never results in neglecting charity or duty, because God’s providence always provides for those who place Him first—without hesitation or compromise.
Reflect today on the immediacy and depth of your own response to Christ’s call. Have you placed conditions on your discipleship? Are there attachments—whether to comfort, relationships, duties, or even noble aspirations—that subtly delay your surrender to God’s will? Jesus does not ask us to abandon genuine love or responsibility, but nothing must come before Him. He must be the first and guiding principle of every decision. When we follow Him without delay, everything else in life will find its proper order. Pray for the grace to say “Yes” to Jesus today with clarity, courage, and complete trust in His providential care.
My radical Lord, You set Your face toward Jerusalem, unwavering in Your mission to offer Your life for the salvation of sinners. Nothing deterred You—not comfort, fear, or distraction. Enliven within me that same urgency and resolve, that my “Yes” to You may be total and unconditional. May I hold nothing back, make no excuses, and follow You all the way to the Cross. Jesus, I trust in You.
Testifying to the Truth
Thursday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus appointed seventy-two other disciples whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.” Luke 10:1–3
One of the clearest safeguards for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of Christian duty is that we proclaim the Gospel in communion with others. The Christian disciple is never a lone ranger. We do not carry the mission of Christ by private inspiration or isolated insight, but in the context of the Church. The Gospel we preach is not our own. It originates in God, is handed on through Sacred Tradition, and is entrusted to the Church as a whole.
When Jesus sent out the seventy-two disciples, He sent them in pairs. This had deep theological and scriptural significance. According to Mosaic Law, the testimony of two or three witnesses was necessary to establish truth (cf. Deuteronomy 19:15). This standard was well known in Jewish culture and was traditionally applied to legal cases, but Jesus elevated it to strengthen the credibility of evangelization. Two disciples witnessing together to the truth of the Gospel would speak with a kind of moral and spiritual authority that mirrored this ancient tradition. Moreover, when we speak in union with the Church and act in concert with other faithful witnesses, our united work of evangelization becomes a harmonious echo of God’s Word rather than a solitary voice subject to distortion.
Even our Lord Himself respected this principle. When the Pharisees challenged Jesus for speaking on His own authority, He responded, “Even if I do testify on my own behalf, my testimony can be verified… I testify on my behalf and so does the Father who sent me” (cf. John 8:14, 18). Jesus makes clear that He does not speak in isolation; the Father testifies on His behalf. Thus, even the Son, in His earthly mission, models the humility of cooperative testimony.
Consider your own duty to testify to the truth of the Gospel. The Twelve whom Jesus had earlier sent represent the bishops of the Church, who form the foundation of Christ’s mission through their participation in apostolic succession. In today’s Gospel, the seventy-two represent every disciple of Christ, including each of us today. Discipleship is much more than following Jesus through a personal devotion to Him and His teachings. It also includes being sent by Him. Once we receive the Gospel and interiorize it through living faith and prayer, we will then be sent by Christ to go forth and testify to the truth we have received. This is not an option; it’s a necessity.
How well do you do this? Sometimes we can fall into the trap of thinking that our faith is something personal that we keep to ourselves. But it is not. It must be shared, and if we are disciples, then we are also evangelists.
Being an evangelist does not necessarily mean we enter into a full-time apostolate by which we preach and teach as we travel from town to town. For most, evangelization takes place in the ordinary rhythms of life—in our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and social settings. It means living our faith with authenticity, speaking the truth with charity, and radiating Christ through our actions as well as our words. It means being willing to witness to the Gospel even when it is uncomfortable, unpopular, or rejected, and doing so in union with others in the faith.
Reflect today on whether you are testifying to the truth in the way God is asking of you. Have you embraced both the privilege and the responsibility of being sent? Resolve to go forth with the courage of a lamb in the midst of wolves, never alone, but always in communion with Christ and His Church, bearing witness to the Kingdom that is at hand. Doing so will not only bring blessings to others, it will also deepen your faith and communion with God.
My Lord and Living Word, Your voice must go out to the ends of the earth, drawing many to You through the members of Your Mystical Body, the Church. Please draw me close to You, dear Lord, and when I am ready, send me forth with others to testify to the Truth of Your saving Word. Use me as an instrument of Your grace, that through my witness, You may draw many souls into the glory of Your Eternal Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.
Hardness of Heart
Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to them, “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty deeds done in your midst had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.” Luke 10:13–14
The invocation of “woe” is not merely an expression of righteous anger; it is also a sorrowful and prophetic cry. These words echo the cries of the Old Testament prophets, especially Isaiah and Jeremiah, who grieved the spiritual blindness of Israel. Above all, they are laments of love—longings in the Sacred Heart of Jesus that the people of these towns would repent and turn back to God.
After speaking of Chorazin and Bethsaida, Jesus also laments over Capernaum, the town where He spent much of His public ministry. All three towns—Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum—were deeply privileged, religiously speaking. They witnessed many of Jesus’ miracles and heard His powerful preaching. They were predominantly Jewish towns, filled with those awaiting the Messiah. Yet despite the light they had received through Moses and the prophets, many remained unmoved when the Messiah arrived. Their hearts were hardened.
Interestingly, today all three towns lie in ruins, while many other ancient towns in Israel and the surrounding regions continue to thrive. Their physical desolation seems to echo their spiritual decline.
Jesus contrasts these privileged towns with Tyre and Sidon—Gentile cities located in what is now Lebanon, known in ancient times for their paganism and idolatrous practices. He states that had His mighty deeds been performed there, the people would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. His words reveal that the Gospel bears fruit where there is openness. Grace first touches hearts that are disposed to receive it.
Why were so many in these Jewish towns unresponsive, while the Gentiles of Tyre and Sidon would have responded so readily? The people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum had the Law, the Prophets, and the covenants. They knew the promises. But their familiarity with sacred things may have led to a kind of spiritual presumption. The Gentiles of Tyre and Sidon, on the other hand, though lacking the Law, were not weighed down by religious complacency. They recognized their distance from God, and in that humility, they might have been more receptive.
Saint Augustine once said, “God gives where He finds empty hands.” Grace meets the soul in humility. Though steeped in paganism, Tyre and Sidon may have lacked the pride that often accompanies religious privilege and knowledge without conversion. Jesus Himself frequently found more faith among Gentiles than in His own people.
The people of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum did not reject Jesus for lack of evidence. They saw the mighty deeds that fulfilled the Messianic prophecies. But their rejection sprang from spiritual resistance—often rooted in pride, envy, or rigid expectations of what the Messiah should be. Such resistance to grace, especially when God reveals Himself clearly, constitutes one of the gravest sins against the Holy Spirit (cf. CCC 1864).
Reflect today on your own receptivity to the Lord’s presence and action in your life. Have you grown complacent in the faith? Do you take for granted the abundant graces you’ve been given through the Sacraments, Sacred Scripture, and the life of the Church? Seek humility of heart. Let us not be among those who see and hear yet fail to respond. Instead, let us receive His Word with joy and bear fruit that endures.
My lamenting Lord, You not only cried out in sorrow over the people of Galilee who refused to listen to Your saving Word and repent, but even now Your Sacred Heart is pierced with sorrow when those within Your Church fail to humble themselves and open their hearts to Your transforming Word. Please penetrate my heart and humble me, Lord, so that I may truly listen, understand, and respond to You. Remove all spiritual complacency from my soul. Make me docile and ready to respond every time You speak. Jesus, I trust in You.
Spiritual Warfare and Heavenly Glory
Saturday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17–20
The seventy-two disciples Jesus sent out on a mission symbolize the whole Church. Though the Twelve Apostles and their apostolic successors, the bishops, hold a unique role in providing the foundation of the Church, the seventy-two represent all disciples who, after choosing to follow Christ in word and deed, are then sent forth to witness to the Gospel and exercise Christ’s authority.
It’s interesting that when the seventy-two returned, their only recorded reaction was, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Why is that? Why not say, “Lord, many hearts were touched, and many came to believe in You”? Perhaps for a few reasons.
First, given the mixture of many pagan religious practices found in first-century Israel, it’s possible that demonic possession was more prevalent and visible than it is today. Or perhaps satan is just as active now, but more subtle and deceptive in appearance. It’s also possible that mental illness was often interpreted as demonic possession.
Another reason the seventy-two may have focused on the authority over demons they experienced on mission is because, then as now, many people find evil and demonic activity strangely fascinating. Evil and satanic manifestations can create a dark allure in people’s minds.
Whatever the reason for their fascination, there is something good in the joy they experienced. Demons and demonic possession are jarring and intimidating. Therefore, when these disciples encountered demons directly and then successfully commanded them to be silent or to depart from a possessed person, they were rightly relieved and overjoyed. Christ had given them authority over evil, and the demons were overpowered by a simple command spoken in Jesus’ name.
Jesus acknowledges the value of this spiritual warfare and affirms that it was by His authority that the seventy-two prevailed. However, He also places their mission and its fruits in proper order. Driving out demons is not an end in itself. It may be necessary at times, but it is not the highest good. The salvation of souls, which gives God eternal glory, is the highest good. Therefore, Jesus says, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
These same principles apply to us. Though we might not encounter demons visibly possessing people and being cast out through an exorcism, we do see the evil one at work in countless ways and are often more fascinated by that evil than by God’s grace quietly building up His Kingdom. For example, consider your interest in the latest headlines. If two stories were covered—one a shocking display of evil, the other an inspiring account of God’s grace at work—which would catch most people’s attention? Likely the shocking and demonic one. Though like the seventy-two, we must be attentive to the demonic forces at work and do our part to overcome them, we must also be careful not to make the fight against evil our primary focus. Rather, combating evil is only a means to a far greater end: the sanctity of every soul and the upbuilding of the Kingdom of God.
Reflect today on your own focus. Are you more fascinated by the darkness of evil or by the light of grace? Are you more intrigued by dramatic spiritual battles or by the quiet workings of sanctity? Rejoice above all that your name, by God’s grace, is written in heaven, and make this the ultimate goal of all you do by God’s grace.
All-powerful Lord, You command the demons, and they obey. Grant me the grace to rebuke the evil one and all his works. Even more, grant me the grace to be transformed in heart, conformed ever more perfectly to You, so that I may share more fully in Your Kingdom and help draw others into the glory of eternal life. Jesus, I trust in You.
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