September 7, 2026
Monday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Lk 6:6-11

Today is Monday of the Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time. The passage taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke presents to us the deeds of Jesus in the synagogue on the Sabbath. I would like to take this opportunity to offer some reflections.

We often resemble those crowds who followed Jesus, choosing to follow Christ for various reasons and based on various motives. Among us there are some who, by means of this faith, seek to earn themselves a good name in this world; others hope to obtain free food from the Church; and still others desire to pursue higher office within the Church, so that their own selfish desires may be satisfied.

In reality, all that we now uphold is founded upon our fragile human nature and upon the ties of affection and kinship that we cannot bear to sever — all of which unceasingly devour our love for God and the fervor we held when we first received the baptism of Christ. At that time, we often cherished boundless longing and desire for our heavenly homeland. But soon, the enemy of the human soul — the devil — like a roaring lion roaming about, seeking someone to devour (Cf. 1 Pt 5:8). He frequently makes use of those who are like us, together with every evil thought that arises from our flesh, to hinder us from drawing near to God. When we desire to take up our own cross and follow Christ, he, just as he tempted Christ at the beginning (Cf. Lk 4:1-13), seeks to prevent us from attaining holiness. As a result, although we have already received the baptism of Christ, our lives are lived as though we were still people who had never known Christ — living in our own world, gradually drifting away from God, away from the Church that Jesus Himself founded upon Peter (Cf. Mt 16:18-19), and away from the shepherd who, for the salvation of our souls, unceasingly offers sacrifice and prayers to God on our behalf. Thus, we often remain living in a state of constant bargaining with God.

Today, let us no longer live in our own world, but rather live in the world of God. Let us no longer hinder anyone from receiving the loving care of Jesus but make ourselves channels of the love of God. Now, let us together offer our prayer to God:

O God, by whom we are redeemed and receive adoption,
look graciously upon your beloved sons and daughters,
that those who believe in Christ
may receive true freedom
and an everlasting inheritance.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica