The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary challenge us to deepen our understanding of the Way in which we make Christ present as we encounter people on our journey.
The Reading from the Letter to the Colossians proclaims the Sovereign Role of Christ.
* [2:4–23] In face of the threat posed by false teachers (Col 2:4), the Colossians are admonished to adhere to the gospel as it was first preached to them (Col 2:6), steeping themselves in it with grateful hearts (Col 2:7). They must reject religious teachings originating in any source except the gospel (Col 2:8) because in Christ alone will they have access to God, the deity (Col 2:9). So fully has Christ enlightened them that they need no other source of religious knowledge or virtue (Col 2:10). They do not require circumcision (Col 2:11), for in baptism their whole being has been affected by Christ (Col 2:12) through forgiveness of sin and resurrection to a new life (Col 2:13; cf. Col 3:1 and Rom 6:1–11). On the cross Christ canceled the record of the debt that stood against us with all its claims (Col 2:14), i.e., he eliminated the law (cf. Eph 2:15) that human beings could not observe—and that could not save them. He forgave sins against the law (Col 2:14) and exposed as false and misleading (Col 2:15) all other powers (cf. Col 1:16) that purport to offer salvation. Therefore, the Colossians are not to accept judgments from such teachers on food and drink or to keep certain religious festivals or engage in certain cultic practices (Col 2:16), for the Colossians would thereby risk severing themselves from Christ (Col 2:19). If, when they accepted the gospel, they believed in Christ as their savior, they must be convinced that their salvation cannot be achieved by appeasing ruling spirits through dietary practices or through a wisdom gained simply by means of harsh asceticism (Col 2:20–23). (Colossians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 145 celebrates confession and kingship.
* [Psalm 145] A hymn in acrostic form; every verse begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Acrostic poems usually do not develop ideas but consist rather of loosely connected statements. The singer invites all to praise God (Ps 145:1–3, 21). The “works of God” make God present and invite human praise (Ps 145:4–7); they climax in a confession (Ps 145:8–9). God’s mighty acts show forth divine kingship (Ps 145:10–20), a major theme in the literature of early Judaism and in Christianity. (Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus initiates the Mission of the Twelve by Ministering to a Great Multitude.
* [6:12–16] See notes on Mt 10:1–11:1 and Mk 3:14–15.
* [6:12] Spent the night in prayer: see note on Lk 3:21.
* [6:13] He chose Twelve: the identification of this group as the Twelve is a part of early Christian tradition (see 1 Cor 15:5), and in Matthew and Luke, the Twelve are associated with the twelve tribes of Israel (Lk 22:29–30; Mt 19:28). After the fall of Judas from his position among the Twelve, the need is felt on the part of the early community to reconstitute this group before the Christian mission begins at Pentecost (Acts 1:15–26). From Luke’s perspective, they are an important group who because of their association with Jesus from the time of his baptism to his ascension (Acts 1:21–22) provide the continuity between the historical Jesus and the church of Luke’s day and who as the original eyewitnesses guarantee the fidelity of the church’s beliefs and practices to the teachings of Jesus (Lk 1:1–4). Whom he also named apostles: only Luke among the gospel writers attributes to Jesus the bestowal of the name apostles upon the Twelve. See note on Mt 10:2–4. “Apostle” becomes a technical term in early Christianity for a missionary sent out to preach the word of God. Although Luke seems to want to restrict the title to the Twelve (only in Acts 4:4, 14 are Paul and Barnabas termed apostles), other places in the New Testament show an awareness that the term was more widely applied (1 Cor 15:5–7; Gal 1:19; 1 Cor 1:1; 9:1; Rom 16:7).
* [6:14] Simon, whom he named Peter: see note on Mk 3:16.
* [6:15] Simon who was called a Zealot: the Zealots were the instigators of the First Revolt of Palestinian Jews against Rome in A.D. 66–70. Because the existence of the Zealots as a distinct group during the lifetime of Jesus is the subject of debate, the meaning of the identification of Simon as a Zealot is unclear.
* [6:16] Judas Iscariot: the name Iscariot may mean “man from Kerioth.”
* [6:17] The coastal region of Tyre and Sidon: not only Jews from Judea and Jerusalem, but even Gentiles from outside Palestine come to hear Jesus (see Lk 2:31–32; 3:6; 4:24–27). (Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Vivian Amu reminds us that because he saw Christ in them. Peter Claver came down from the mountain of private piety and descended into the valleys of human suffering. Peter Claver was grounded in Christ, and that compelled him to be moved into action from a place of love and radical compassion.
Like Jesus, we must retreat to pray, discern how we are being called, and then find the courage to descend into valleys of human suffering and do our part, not with pity, but with compassionate presence. Sometimes, that would mean advocating for the marginalized when you can, standing in solidarity with the oppressed, spending time with those suffering in mind, body, or spirit, supporting anti-trafficking organizations, listening to the voices of those who have been silenced, or even engaging in deeper empathy in our daily interactions. It is a type of holiness that flows from the cross. The question before us is this: Will we remain on the mountain, or will we come down? As we honor Saint Peter Claver today, may we be inspired by his life. May we find those who are ignored and broken in our midst, and ask, how may I serve?
Compassionate God, grant us a faith that grows and stretches outwards to nourish, support, and bear fruit for others. Amen. (Amu, 2025)
Don Schwager quotes “Jesus chose fishermen and tax collectors to be apostles,” by Ambrose of Milan, 339-397 A.D.
"It says, 'He called his disciples, and he chose twelve of them,' whom he appointed sowers of the faith, to spread the help of human salvation throughout the world. At the same time, observe the heavenly counsel. He chose not wise men, nor rich men, nor nobles, but fishermen and tax collectors, whom he would direct, lest they seem to have seduced some by wisdom, or bought them with riches, or attracted them to their own grace with the authority of power and nobility. He did this so that the reasoning of truth, not the grace of disputation, should prevail."(excerpt from EXPOSITION OF THE GOSPEL OF LUKE 5.44) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Colossians 2:6-15 comments that by comparing Christ’s victory over sin and death to a Roman triumph, Paul painted a vivid picture in the minds of the Colossians: Jesus’ victory was complete! His death and resurrection have brought about a decisive and enduring conquest of all that afflicts us. It was an image that would help the Colossians “walk in him” (2:6).
Paul also says that Jesus has obliterated the bond against you, with its legal claims (2:14). Sin has a real effect. It separates you from God. But Jesus has eliminated that effect—he demolished it, annihilated it! How? By nailing it to the cross (2:14). With Christ, all the claims against you were crucified. Jesus has despoiled the powers against you—sin and death and the devil—because he has removed you from their grasp.
Let these words and this image fill your heart. There is no question: Jesus has defeated sin and death. He has conquered your own sins. He has set you free!
“Jesus, I praise you for your triumph over sin and death!” (Meditation on Colossians 2:6-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments speaks about holing on to Christ and walking with him in contrast to pagan gods or the entrance of gnosticism, knowledge a special supernatural spiritual knowledge Hers the fullness of the deity a special word of levels of the deity Jesus is the head of every principality and power legions of angel but the Incarnate is superior to the angels living a life in Jesus crucified In Luek, 12 apostle and 72 disciples Another common theme In Luke Jesus is always praying to discern the Will of the Father to know His mission A large number of pagans in Jesus mission noted by Luke.
Fr. Richard Rohr introduces Australian theologian Sally Douglas who considers Jesus’ teachings about power. Jesus connects using our power to honor and protect others with being a transforming presence or “salt” in the world.
When Jesus' communities embody structures in which the last are first and the “little ones” (including children and vulnerable adults) are honoured, safe and included, we become a salty, seasoning gift, sprinkled across our global village. When Christians live in authentic peace, no longer sniping, competing or lording it over one another, we offer a spicy alternative to the dominant models of power in our global village that are commonly shaped by coercion, fear, exclusion, and violence. (Amu, 2025)
We ponder the transformation of the followers of Jesus to become apostles and seek the guidance of the Spirit in our transformation and our support of people undergoing transformation to new roles in the Body of Christ.
References
Amu, V. (2025, September 9). Daily Reflection September 9, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-9-2025
Colossians, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/2?6
Luke, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/6
Meditation on Colossians 2:6-15. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/09/09/1377206/
Psalms, PSALM 145 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/145?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Not the Greatest but the Least. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/not-the-greatest-but-the-least/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 9, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=sep9
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