Victory without Vanity

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to ponder the futility of expecting goodness to be the result of our playing to the vanity of leaders motivated by self aggrandizement. 

Building Good Government

The Reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes warns “Nothing is new under the sun.”

* [1:2] Vanity of vanities: a Hebrew superlative expressing the supreme degree of futility and emptiness.

* [1:3] Under the sun: used throughout this book to signify “on the earth.”

* [1:8] All things are wearisome: or, “All speech is wearisome.”

* [1:11] Movement in nature and human activity appears to result in change and progress. The author argues that this change and progress are an illusion: “Nothing is new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 90 describes in general terms the cause of the community’s distress.

* [Psalm 90] A communal lament that describes only in general terms the cause of the community’s distress. After confidently invoking God (Ps 90:1), the Psalm turns to a complaint contrasting God’s eternity with the brevity of human life (Ps 90:2–6) and sees in human suffering the punishment for sin (Ps 90:7–12). The Psalm concludes with a plea for God’s intervention (Ps 90:13–17).

* [90:3] Dust: one word of God is enough to return mortals to the dust from which they were created. Human beings were created from earth in Gn 2:7; 3:19.

* [90:5] You wash them away: the Hebrew of Ps 90:4–5 is unclear.

* [90:6] It is wilted and withered: the transitory nature of the grass under the scorching sun was proverbial, cf. Ps 129:6; Is 40:6–8. (Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents Herod’s Curious Opinion of Jesus.

* [9:7–56] This section in which Luke gathers together incidents that focus on the identity of Jesus is introduced by a question that Herod is made to ask in this gospel: “Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”(Lk 9:9) In subsequent episodes, Luke reveals to the reader various answers to Herod’s question: Jesus is one in whom God’s power is present and who provides for the needs of God’s people (Lk 9:10–17); Peter declares Jesus to be “the Messiah of God” (Lk 9:18–21); Jesus says he is the suffering Son of Man (Lk 9:22, 43–45); Jesus is the Master to be followed, even to death (Lk 9:23–27); Jesus is God’s son, his Chosen One (Lk 9:28–36).

* [9:7] Herod the tetrarch: see note on Lk 3:1.

* [9:9] And he kept trying to see him: this indication of Herod’s interest in Jesus prepares for Lk 13:31–33 and for Lk 23:8–12 where Herod’s curiosity about Jesus’ power to perform miracles remains unsatisfied. (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Gladyce Janky wonders how Herod’s life might have changed had he allowed himself to listen to God’s invitation. Instead, he clung to the life he knew rather than venturing into the unknown where God was waiting.

In my own humanity, I am not that different from Herod. I can fall into the trap of trusting what I think I own, forgetting that everything I have is a gift from God. I look without truly seeing the beauty and wonder of creation; I listen without hearing, sometimes because I resist a different opinion, sometimes because facing another’s suffering feels too heavy. A mindset of self-reliance or the illusion of control can take root in anyone. So, what are we to do? How can we change the dynamics of our individual lives and, in doing so, help transform the world?

Without help, we remain stuck—repeating the same patterns as our ancestors, patterns that future generations will repeat unless something breaks the cycle. But something has. Because Jesus entered our reality and chose to die for us, we have an Advocate who tirelessly draws us toward God. The Holy Spirit continues to nudge, stir, and awaken our hearts, just as I imagine happened in Herod’s. Grace keeps reaching for us, inviting us to step out of fear and into the freedom of God’s love. And when we finally allow ourselves to follow Jesus, we discover that the path we feared is the very path that brings life.

Reflection question: If I hear God’s voice today, how will I respond? (Janky, 2026)

Don Schwager quotes “Integrity is a hardship for the morally corrupt,” by Peter Chrysologus (400-450 AD).

"John aroused Herod by his moral admonitions, not by any formal accusation. He wanted to correct, not to suppress. Herod, however, preferred to suppress rather than be reconciled. To those who are held captive, the freedom of the one innocent of wrongdoing becomes hateful. Virtue is undesirable to those who are immoral; holiness is abhorrent to those who are impious; chastity is an enemy to those who are impure; integrity is a hardship for those who are corrupt; frugality runs counter to those who are self-indulgent; mercy is intolerable to those who are cruel, as is loving-kindness to those who are pitiless and justice to those who are unjust. The Evangelist indicates this when he says, "John said to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have the wife of your brother Philip.'" This is where John runs into trouble. He who admonishes those who are evil gives offense. He who repudiates wrongdoers runs into trouble. John was saying what was proper of the law, what was proper of justice, what was proper of salvation and what was proper certainly not of hatred but of love. And look at the reward he received from the ungodly for his loving concern!" (excerpt from SERMONS 127.6-7)

[Peter Chrysologus, 400-450 AD, was a renowned preacher and bishop of Ravena in the 5th century] (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Ecclesiastes is also called Qoheleth or the Preacher who declares “vanity of vanities”. Everything is not new so why are we expecting new and original events. Qoheleth wanted to attack the reward and punishment ideas of his culture. Live the best life you can, he suggests. In conclusion, “Do the best you can”. Herod the Tetrarch, who had John the Baptist beheaded is fascinated by both John the Baptist and Jesus. He recognizes the Good of Jesus even from living his dissolute lifestyle.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:2-11 comments that It’s true that time marches on and that all things will pass away like a vapor in the wind. But not everything is vanity. Your life and your decisions have eternal value because you were made for eternity. The breath of God, his very life, is in you. And that life is a life of divine love, a love that “never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:8).

Imagine! Your prayer life, your devotion to your loved ones, your love for Scripture, your care for your neighbor, your compassion for the least of those among us—these are all grace-filled movements of the heart. And they do not fade. They are all moments when you can touch heaven here and now. They are moments when you encounter the Lord, who is inviting you into the blessed communion for which you were created.

Your life is not vanity! When everything else passes away like a wisp of cloud, the new creation you have become in Christ will remain.

“Thank you, Jesus, for breathing your life into me!” (Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:2-11, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, explains that so-called “redemptive violence” usually only perpetuates the cycles of violence Jesus came to stop. What Leviticus 16–27 describes as the “law of holiness”—separation from sinful people, the rejection of certain actions and things—is turned around in Jesus so that the very acts of separation, superiority, and rejection are in fact the sins! 

I believe Jesus is teaching us that if we put our energy into choosing the good—instead of the negative and largely illusionary energy of rejecting the bad—we will overcome evil in a much better way and will not become evil ourselves. This is exactly what he does on the cross, and I believe it is at the heart of his message. At our center in New Mexico, we have taken it as one of our central axioms that “the best criticism of the bad is the practice of the better.” 

More than anything else, this is how Jesus reformed the laws of religion and undercut the basis for all violent, exclusionary, and punitive behavior. He became the forgiving victim so we would stop creating victims ourselves. He became the falsely accused one so we would be careful whom we accuse.  (Rohr, n.d.)

We invoke the Spirit as we attempt to work with the sometimes hidden goodness in our environment to encourage greater love and compassion in our interactions.

References

Ecclesiastes, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ecclesiastes/1?1 

Janky, G. (2026, September 24). Daily Reflection September 24, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-24-2026 

Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?7 

Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:2-11. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/24/1675587/ 

Psalms, PSALM 90 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/90?3 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). The Myth of Redemptive Violence. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/the-myth-of-redemptive-violence/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Suppressing Truth to Ease a Guilty Conscience. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 24, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/? 

Sufficiency and Sacrifice

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to evaluate how we determine the level of sufficiency we maintain and our trust in Providence to supply what we need.

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest

The Book of Proverbs offers a prayer against lying words and for sufficiency of goods.

* [30:5–6] Verse 5, like the confession of the king in Ps 18:31 (and its parallel, 2 Sm 22:31), expresses total confidence in the one who rescues from death. Agur has refused a word from any other except God and makes an act of trust in God.

* [30:7–9] A prayer against lying words and for sufficiency of goods, lest reaction to riches or destitution lead to offenses against God. (Proverbs, CHAPTER 30 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 119 delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts.

* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them. (Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke advocates relying on Providence in The Mission of the Twelve

* [9:1–6] Armed with the power and authority that Jesus himself has been displaying in the previous episodes, the Twelve are now sent out to continue the work that Jesus has been performing throughout his Galilean ministry: (1) proclaiming the kingdom (Lk 4:43; 8:1); (2) exorcising demons (Lk 4:33–37, 41; 8:26–39) and (3) healing the sick (Lk 4:38–40; 5:12–16, 17–26; 6:6–10; 7:1–10, 17, 22; Lk 8:40–56).

* [9:3] Take nothing for the journey: the absolute detachment required of the disciple (Lk 14:33) leads to complete reliance on God (Lk 12:22–31).

* [9:5] Shake the dust from your feet: see note on Mt 10:14. (Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB, n.d.)

Nancy Shirley explains that we can forgive yet still expect accountability for the transgression.

As we say the Our Father at every mass, the idea of asking for forgiveness of our trespasses is contingent upon us forgiving those who have trespassed against us. Thus, we must forgive to be forgiven. It is a challenge for me at times to know if I have actually forgiven as I still remember very well the “trespass.” Yet, I do not seek retribution for the act, rather just a feeling of wanting to shake the dust from my feet and move on and no longer include this person as part of my life. The struggle is real and the solution allusive to me still. I want to be loving and forgiving but my humanness does not want to expose myself again to the hurt or damages caused by the person. The question remains to me: can I forgive seventy-seven times and still shake the dust and walk away?

As I was thinking about a song to connect to this reflection, I thought of the song about being a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody. I got into the car and the first song on K-Love was the very song I was considering. Another God-wink!! Here it is …

Nobody by Casting Crowns (Shirley, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Jesus gave power and authority to his apostles,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon's wickedness. By the might and efficacy of the Holy Spirit, burning them as if they were on fire, they make the devil come forth with groans and weeping from those whom he had possessed... He glorified his disciples, therefore, by giving them authority and power over the evil spirits and over sicknesses. Did he honor them without reason and make them famous without any logical cause? How can this be true? It was necessary, most necessary, that they should be able to work miracles, having been publicly appointed ministers of sacred proclamations. By means of their works, they then could convince men that they were the ministers of God and mediators of all beneath the heaven. The apostles then could invite them all to reconciliation and justification by faith and point out the way of salvation and of life that is this justification." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 47) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments in the passage from Proverbs today the first grouping of the text are the words of God and the direction to hold to them. The author offers a prayer not to have too much, not too little but only what he needs. The Gospel presents the mandate to the Apostles to take nothing and God will provide. In Luke, trust in Providence is part of reaching out to the anawim, those excluded from the society. Friar Jude notes that Apostles should become anawim to trust in God and know you will not make it without Him.

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 9:1-6 comments that the message of Jesus, of the apostles, and of the Church is twofold. First, “The kingdom of God is at hand!” Everyone welcomes that exciting news. But then comes the call: “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). Change your heart. Turn away from sin. Humble yourself before the Lord.

This is where we get caught. We forget that we are sinners. We forget that Jesus came to take away our sins—and to do it not by himself but very much with our cooperation. Or we forget that repentance is a lifelong pursuit as we continue to learn more about ourselves and the areas of our lives that we might try to shield from the Lord.

But God is persistent. And he is patient. The key is to not close the door on him abruptly when you feel resistance in your heart. Instead, let him in and just listen. Give him the chance to show you the freedom that comes when you repent and believe!

“Lord, help me to welcome you into all aspects of my life.” (Meditation on Luke 9:1-6, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, reminds us that embodying nonviolence requires facing the structures of violence in our culture, church, and world. We seem to have assumed that the individual must live the gospel but that the corporate church doesn’t have to. We Christians expected individuals to be poor while the institution remained rich. This cannot be right. We have to live the gospel not just individually but institutionally, socially, and corporately.

Having traveled and taught in many countries, I have learned to recognize many of the beautiful aspects of the United States. We have historically enjoyed many privileges in terms of freedom, education, and resources. Yet I have also seen America’s shadow side, particularly our insistence on individuality. If our prayer journey does not lead us to a collective sense of servanthood and responsibility for the world, I think we will have failed in our willingness to deal with the violence of the world. I think the violence will continue as long as much of the world views us as a part of an oppressive system. In many respects, they’re not wrong! Only one thing is more difficult to deal with than the individual ego, and that’s the corporate ego, which is usually more disguised, protected, and denied. Unless we’re willing to face it, we will continue to participate in cycles of anger, hatred, and violence rather than healing and justice. [1] (Rohr, n.d.)

Richard ties our acceptance of violence to the belief that Jesus’s violent death was necessary for God to forgive us:

Our commonly accepted atonement theory—especially as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Jesus—reaffirmed our narrow notion of retributive justice and legitimated a notion of “good and necessary violence” all the way down. As long as we employ any retributive notion of God’s justice, we trade our distinctive Christian message for the cold, hard justice that has prevailed in most cultures throughout history. We offer no redemptive alternative to history but actually sanctify the very “powers and principalities” that Paul says unduly control the world (Ephesians 3:9–10, 6:12). We stay inside of what some call the “myth of redemptive violence,” which might just be the dominant story line of history. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the consolation of the Spirit as we work through our motivation to work with Christ in the environment of our community to be apostles of faith, hope, and love.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 9 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?1 

Meditation on Luke 9:1-6. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/23/1674954/ 

Proverbs, CHAPTER 30 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/proverbs/30? 

Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119? 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Corporate Violence Met by Corporate Good. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/corporate-violence-met-by-corporate-good/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Jesus Gave Them Authority over All Demons and Diseases. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/? 

Shirley, N. (n.d.). Daily Reflection September 23, 2026 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved September 23, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-23-2026 

Sacred Siblings

 The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine how our understanding of who we accept as a sibling aligns with Jesus' love and inclusion.

All Our Siblings?

The reading from the Book of Proverbs uses the image of chasing a bubble over deadly snares to describe some of the ways we exert influence.

* [21:1] “Channeled water” in Is 32:2 and Prv 5:16 is water that fertilizes arid land. It takes great skill to direct water, whether it be water to fertilize fields or cosmic floods harnessed at creation, for water is powerful and seems to have a mind of its own. It also requires great skill to direct the heart of a king, for it is inscrutable and beyond ordinary human control.

* [21:3] External rites or sacrifices do not please God unless accompanied by internal worship and right moral conduct; cf. 15:8; 21:27; Is 1:11–15; Am 5:22; Mal 1:12.

* [21:4] Heart and eyes depict, respectively, the inner and the outer person. “Haughty eyes” peering out from a “proud heart” show a thoroughly arrogant person. How can such a person flourish! Their lamp, which signifies life, will go out.

* [21:5] The antitheses are diligent and impetuous. The metaphor characterizing each type is taken from the world of commerce. Planning is important; bustle leads to waste.

* [21:12] It is difficult to ascertain the subject of the saying. Some hold it is the Lord, the “Righteous One,” who is normally the executor of justice in Proverbs. Others believe it is the just person who is the agent of divine justice. “Righteous One” is a title for God in Is 24:16. The best argument for making God the subject of the verb is that elsewhere in Proverbs righteous human beings never do anything to the wicked; only God does. (Proverbs, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 119 praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by.

 

* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them. (Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents the essence of Jesus and His Family.

* [8:19] His brothers: see note on Mk 6:3.

* [8:21] The family of Jesus is not constituted by physical relationship with him but by obedience to the word of God. In this, Luke agrees with the Marcan parallel (Mk 3:31–35), although by omitting Mk 3:33 and especially Mk 3:20–21 Luke has softened the Marcan picture of Jesus’ natural family. Probably he did this because Mary has already been presented in Lk 1:38 as the obedient handmaid of the Lord who fulfills the requirement for belonging to the eschatological family of Jesus; cf. also Lk 11:27–28. (Luke, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)

Rev. John Shea, SJ, comments that Jesus is expanding our notion of who belongs in the family of God: “those who hear the word of God and act upon it.”

This challenges all of us. Suddenly, family isn’t just my immediate family or even my extended family. It includes all believers. Even if we don’t enjoy a healthy relationship with our biological family, we know how we ought to behave towards a family member. Parents ought to provide unconditional love to their children. Siblings ought to love and support each other. I’m sure you, like me, fall short of this ideal with your families. So, we shouldn’t be surprised when we fail to extend the same love and compassion to our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If we fail to love our children (the unborn and the born, including victims of child trafficking and those held in detention centers) then how can we love the poor, the immigrant and the refugee? By expanding our concept of family, Jesus makes it far more difficult to place family first. (Shea, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Those who listen and obey God's word become true children of God,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"The present lesson teaches us that obedience and listening to God are the causes of every blessing. Some entered and spoke respectfully about Christ's holy mother and his brothers. He answered in these words, 'My mother and my brothers are they who hear the word of God and do it.' Now do not let any one imagine that Christ scorned the honor due to his mother or contemptuously disregarded the love owed to his brothers. He spoke the law by Moses and clearly said, 'Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you' (Deuteronomy 5:16). How, I ask, could he have rejected the love due to brothers, who even commanded us to love not merely our brothers but also those who are enemies to us? He says, 'Love your enemies' (Matthew 5:44).

"What does Christ want to teach? His object is to exalt highly his love toward those who are willing to bow the neck to his commands. I will explain the way he does this. The greatest honors and the most complete affection are what we all owe to our mothers and brothers. If he says that they who hear his word and do it are his mother and brothers, is it not plain to every one that he bestows on those who follow him a love thorough and worthy of their acceptance? He would make them readily embrace the desire of yielding themselves to his words and of submitting their mind to his yoke, by means of a complete obedience." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 42) (Schwager, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage from Proverbs is a collection of wisdom sayings that are how to live a good life by being humble, seeking the Lord and giving to the poor. In later chapters of Proverbs the lesson is more spiritual but here there are simply lessons for leaders. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus identifies His Mother and brothers. In Jesus' community people related as cousins were treated as brothers. (Roman Catholic tradition). If Mary had remarried, Jesus could be referring to half brothers (Orthodox tradition). Some Protestant communities accept Mary had additional children. (full brothers and sisters) The ancient tradition supports one child of Mary. Other Gospel accounts are less ambiguous. Friar Jude comments that Mary surrendered to the Word and she fills the role of Mother of Jesus spiritually. 

The Word Among Us Meditation on Meditation on Luke 8:19-21 comments that Jesus honored his family and cared for his mother, even from the cross (John 19:25-26). But he also knew that he had come to create a new, wider family built on obedience to his word and the power of the Holy Spirit.

You are part of that family! You entered it through faith in Jesus’ word and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. You are now a son or daughter of God! You honor and deepen that relationship as you continue to hear and act on Jesus’ words, especially as you love your brothers and sisters. In fact, your bond with Jesus and the people who belong to him can become as strong as the closest family bond—and it will last through eternity. What a privilege it is to belong to the Lord and one another as members of his spiritual family!

“Thank you, Lord, for bringing me into your family!” (Meditation on Luke 8:19-21, n.d.)

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Palestinian Quaker Jean Zaru who bears witness to her commitment to nonviolent resistance. She writes of the ongoing commitment necessary to live out nonviolent struggle for justice.

I believe that we are called to conversion: to be converted to the struggle of women and men everywhere who have no way to escape the unending fatigue of their labor and the daily denial of their human rights and human worth. We must be converted, so to speak, to a new vision of human dignity, what we call “that of God” in each person, even in those we oppose….  

Ultimately, I have learned that the nonviolent struggle for justice is one struggle, and that action to subvert violence and strengthen human rights in one place is an action on behalf of all people everywhere.

I have managed to find peace within—without having to embrace with approval the violence around me. Love of one’s enemies forces me to recognize that my enemy, too, is a child of God. This realization is necessary if our enemies are ever to make the changes we are requiring of them. It is really only in the light of love that I am liberated to work for peace and freedom.

We need to invoke the Spirit to fill our hearts and minds and enkindle the fire of love that recognizes our siblings are all people, as we all are children of God.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/8? 

Meditation on Luke 8:19-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/22/1674423/ 

Proverbs, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/proverbs/21?1 

Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved June 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Loyalty to Christ’s Peace. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/loyalty-to-christs-peace/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Hear the Word of God and Do It. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/ 

Shea, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-22-2026