FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH, TWENTY -SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, OCTOBER 3, 2025

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

Luke 10:13-16

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. And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven? You will go down to the netherworld.' Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

REFLECTION

 “And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

God constantly reminds us to come to Him, to experience what a blessing it is to be with Him. We know the cost of discipleship but this desire to leave behind sin and bask in His glory can be quite strong. With true humility we should listen to these stirrings and make the decision to please and serve God.

But it is only with our free will we make that critical decision to obey God and listen to His voice. How badly do we want to leave the past behind and resolve to not sin any more? The answer is within us. Which will we choose today?

Jesus, without mincing words, tells us to repent in today’s Gospel. His message resonates. As long as we live here on earth, it is a concupiscent battle that lives in us.

Our desire to leave sin behind us, to detach from the near occasion of sin and fight the enjoyment and pleasures of a particular sin sound great but can be difficult in the world of social media, social obligations and distractions.

What will my will follow? Our instruments for battle are prayer, the Sacraments, mortification or “putting to death” our natural appetites and unreasonable desires. Spending time with God in Holy Hour transforms us. In the quiet of the hour He speaks to us.

Each day choose discipline over laziness. Have a fixed schedule of waking, praying and sleeping; choose good habits over bad habits; seek advice from your spiritual advisor; read the biographies of the saints and see how they fought their battles; read the Old Testament such as Baruch (today’s reading) and see what happened when they chose “idolatry, selfish pleasures and exploitation of the poor” .

Will we be ready when we are called?

God bless you