Attend to Our Mission

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today alert us to the truth that our fullness of life is achieved to the extent that we attend to the Mission of love and mercy presented to us by the Prince of Peace.

Our Mission

The Reading from the Prophet Baruch declares a Confession of Guilt for the returned exiles.

* [1:15–2:10] This confession of sin is similar to Dn 9:7–14, and echoes ideas from Deuteronomy and Jeremiah; cf. also Neh 9. (Baruch, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalm 79 is a communal lament following the destruction of Jerusalem.

* [Psalm 79] A communal lament complaining that the nations have defiled the Temple and murdered the holy people, leaving their corpses unburied (Ps 79:1–4). The occasion is probably the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonian army in 587 B.C. The people ask how long the withdrawal of divine favor will last (Ps 79:5), pray for action now (Ps 79:6–7), and admit that their own sins have brought about the catastrophe (Ps 79:8–9). They seek to persuade God to act for reasons of honor: the nations who do not call upon the Name are running amok (Ps 79:6); the divine honor is compromised (Ps 79:1, 10, 12); God’s own servants suffer (Ps 79:2–4, 11). (Psalms, PSALM 79, n.d.)

In the Gospel of  Luke, Jesus declares Reproaches to Unrepentant Towns.

* [10:13–16] The call to repentance that is a part of the proclamation of the kingdom brings with it a severe judgment for those who hear it and reject it.

* [10:15] The netherworld: the underworld, the place of the dead (Acts 2:27, 31) here contrasted with heaven; see also note on Mt 11:23. (Luke, CHAPTER 10, n.d.)

Carol Zuegner comments that like the people in the towns that Jesus speaks of, we aren’t paying attention. That attention can spread beyond the formal prayers we say. One of my favorite Jesuit charisms is to find God in all things. That means in the beauty of nature, the sorrow of a friend fighting cancer, the chance to help someone, or offer a smile or a word of encouragement.

We don’t intend to ignore God in all things. We just get wrapped up in things and ourselves. We are tired, sometimes frustrated, worried, uncertain, and afraid. But we can start our day with intention, to pay attention to those small blessings that we all experience but sometimes barely notice. A sip of hot coffee. A friend who is glad to see us. The sunshine or the respite of a cloudy day. We can find God in all things. We just have to pay attention. (Baruch, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Christ speaks through the disciples,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"Christ gives those who love instruction the assurance that whatever is said concerning him by the holy apostles or evangelists is to be received necessarily without any doubt and to be crowned with the words of truth. He who hears them, hears Christ. For the blessed Paul also said, 'You desire proof that Christ is speaking in me' (2 Corinthians 13:3). Christ himself somewhere also said to the holy disciples, 'For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaks in you' (Matthew 10:20). Christ speaks in them by the consubstantial Spirit. If it is true, and plainly it is, that they speak by Christ, how can they err? He affirms that he who does not hear them, does not hear Christ, and that he who rejects them rejects Christ, and with him the Father."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 63) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Baruch 1:15-22 comments that we need to yield to the Spirit so that he can use these consequences to soften our hearts. Then we can cooperate with his grace as we cast off our selfish desires and our ways of thinking and acting that go against his word. With the Spirit’s help, we can choose to put away our pride and give the Lord authority over our lives. And when we do, we discover the Spirit’s power to transform us, fill us with his joy, and strengthen us to live in holiness.

I

t’s amazing, isn’t it? Not even our most tragic sins can stop the Lord from loving us. He’s just waiting for us to turn to him in repentance, as Baruch did, so that he can teach us, forgive us, and heal us.

“Jesus, give me a humble and contrite heart so that I can be set free!” (Meditation on Baruch 1:15-22, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler recalls Baruch was likely the secretary of Jeremiah. We hear the exiles recognizing their sinfulness with a penitential liturgy and acceptance that exile was their own fault. Psalm 51 asserts we can’t do it alone. We need the grace of conversion to recognize our needs. Jesus calls a mild curse on the Jewish cities that ignored Him. The pagan cities will be rewarded. Jesus asserts that to be superior they have to surrender. Friar Jude cites the great gifts given Christians and recalls “with great gifts comes great responsibility”, attributed to Uncle Ben as advice to the young Peter Parker, Spiderman. We have an obligation to use our great gifts.

Fr. Mike Schmitz reads from Nehemiah today and we hear about how the hearts of the people of Israel were moved as Ezra reads the book of the law of Moses to them. In our reading of Esther, we have the beginning of the crisis that will unfold throughout the book as Haman, backed by the king, seeks to destroy the Jews. Today’s readings are Nehemiah 8, Esther 3 and 13, and Proverbs 21:5-8.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, explores how Francis of Assisi understood the meaning of words like “sin” and “penance”.

Francis’ phrase, “left the world,” didn’t mean leaving creation. It meant leaving what we might call the “system.” Francis left business as usual, and he began an alternative lifestyle, which at that time was called “a life of penance” or abandoning the system. He decided to focus on alleviating the needs and the suffering of others instead of self-advancement. Most of our decisions are usually based on personal, egoic preference and choice. This is the life that we are called to “leave,” the self that Jesus says must “die” to fall into our Larger Life or True Self. Freedom for both Jesus and Francis was purely and simply freedom from the self, which is precisely freedom for the world. This is so utterly different than our Western notion of freedom. In order to be free for a full and authentic life, we must quite simply be free from our smaller selves. 

Francis knew that Jesus was not at all interested in the usual “sin management” task that many clergy seem to think is their job. He saw that Jesus was neither surprised nor upset at what we usually call sin. Jesus was upset at human pain and suffering. What else do all the healing stories mean? They are half of the Gospels! Jesus did not focus on sin. Jesus went where the pain was. Wherever he found human pain, there he went, there he touched, and there he healed.  (Rohr, n.d.)

We implore the guidance of the Spirit as we contemplate the action that aligns us with the Mission we acquire in our Baptismal Anointing as priest, prophet, and leader.

References

Baruch, CHAPTER 1 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/baruch/1?15 

Luke, CHAPTER 10. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/10?13 

Meditation on Baruch 1:15-22. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/10/03/1399938/ 

Psalms, PSALM 79. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/79?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Freedom for a Fuller Life. CAC.org. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/freedom-for-a-fuller-life/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Who Hears You Hears Me. Daily Scripture Net. Retrieved October 3, 2028, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=oct3 

Zuegner, C. (2025, October 3). Daily Reflection October 3, 2025 | Creighton Online Ministries. Creighton Online Ministries. Retrieved October 3, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-october-3-2025 

Penance Providence and Peace

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today invite us to consider the role of Penance, to reflect on our shortcomings, and how we are called to rely on Providence in our mission to live as an example of Jesus' Way of peace.

Return and Reflection

The Reading from the Book of Ezra proclaims a Penitential Prayer.

* [9:6–15] The prayer attributed to Ezra is a communal confession of sin, of a kind characteristic of the Second Temple period (cf. Neh 9:6–37; Dn 9:4–19; 1QS 1:4–2:1), but adapted to the present situation. (Ezra, CHAPTER 9, n.d.)

The response from the Book of Tobit is a hymn of praise.

* [13:1–18] Tobit’s hymn of praise is divided into two parts. The first part (vv. 1–8) is a song of praise that echoes themes from the psalms; (Tobit, CHAPTER 13, n.d.)

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus declares 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, n.d.)

Kimberly Grassmeyer comments that Jesus proclaimed His message as widely as one human could in only a few short years, with limited geographic mobility, and prior to the advent of the printing press, or social media.  One Holy man. 

 

That one man then blessed the twelve, giving them the ‘power and authority’ to proclaim and to heal.  (NB, He also instructed them to simply walk away from those whose hearts were not open.  NOT to hate or vilify them, not to “throw shade”, and certainly not to do harm.  Rather, quite simply: “when you leave that town, shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them”.)  (Grassmeyer, 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 notes that Ezra calls for penitential practice because the people have turned against God even though they have been returned from exile in Babylon for several generations. Ezra initiates a reform of the practice of religion. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus sends out missionaries and to cast out demons and cure disease. Friar Jude reminds us of their dependence on the Providence of God for hospitality and generosity but to leave the area if they are rejected.

Fr. Mike Schmitz introduces the books of Ezra and Haggai, explaining the Israelites' return to the promised land. He also warns us against apathy and indifference in our relationship with God, as we see Israel display towards the temple. The action of Darius (in Isaiah 45) has been compared to the action of the 45th US President (Donald Trump), by some who see a non-believer acting to free and support believers.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Minister Elle Dowd, an anti-racist white activist, who challenges the notion that being a peacemaker means being “nice”. Dowd reflects on the desire to reduce tension instead of learning what it might have to teach.

Direct action intentionally interrupts our daily flow and rhythm in an attempt to raise tension. This tension isn’t new. It isn’t being created out of thin air. It has always existed for our siblings of color.  

For people of color and other oppressed people, the tension caused by marginalization is ever present with very real consequences…. Racism is like being force-fed a poison. Direct action is what happens when people refuse to drink that poison and instead bring a bottle of it to the doorstep of those force-feeding them and demand that they gaze upon the reality of it.  

Direct action doesn’t create new tension. It redistributes the tension that is already there and puts it back where it belongs—at the source.  

Many people—white people, in particular—have little tolerance for tension. We have been taught to avoid tension. Our conditioning has trained us to recoil from discomfort, to think of it as an inherently bad thing, something to sidestep and evade at all costs. Instead of leaning into tension to see what we can learn from it, we often avoid it. But when we do this, when we turn away from tension, we fail to see the gift that this tension can be in revealing the truth. We miss out on the clarity it brings with it, the opportunity to move forward.  (Rohr, n.d.)

We seek the guidance of the Spirit to navigate the tension between responding to our Baptismal anointing as priest, prophet, and leader and the social prejudice against action supported by Providence.

References

Ezra, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ezra/9?5 

Grassmeyer, K. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved September 24, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-24-2025 

Luke, CHAPTER 9. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/9?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Peacemaking Is Not Niceness. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 24, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/peacemaking-is-not-niceness/ 

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 24, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=sep24 

Tobit, CHAPTER 13. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 24, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/tobit/13?2