24 September 2026 Thursday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Lk 9:7-9
Today is Thursday of the Twenty-Fifth Week in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Gospel according to Saint Luke describes the reaction of Herod the tetrarch when he heard of all Jesus had done, and the response of the Jewish people of Jesus’ time. I would like to offer some reflections on this text.
First, Saint Luke tells us: Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening, and he was utterly perplexed (cf. Lk 9:7).
In our own lives we meet all manner of people, who often tell us of the things they have experienced. Herod was no different: no doubt some told him of the events unfolding among the Jewish people. Jesus of Nazareth was proclaiming His Kingdom and His heavenly Father; He was healing the sick, driving out demons, and raising the dead to life. All this left Herod bewildered.
Next, Saint Luke records: Some said, “John has been raised from the dead.” Others said, “Elijah has appeared.” Still others said, “One of the ancient prophets has risen” (cf. Lk 9:8). They spoke thus because they recognized in Jesus the likeness of John the Baptist and the marks of a risen ancient prophet. Like John, Jesus preached repentance and proclaimed the coming of the Kingdom. Filled with the spirit of Elijah, He always did His Father’s will. By His Precious Blood poured out on the Cross, and the water that flowed from His pierced side, by the Spirit of truth whom He sent to His Apostles after His resurrection, and by His most holy Body and Blood given to us at the Last Supper, He safeguards all those whom the Father has given Him. All who believe in Him, and who receive Baptism and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, no longer live solely for this passing world, but for the world of God which He proclaims — rekindling in them a longing for the happiness of eternal life, and enabling them to live this present life well.
Finally, Saint Luke tells us: But Herod said, “John I beheaded; who then is this about whom I hear such things?” He kept seeking to see Him (cf. Lk 9:9). Clearly, Herod never truly accepted Jesus. This is plain to see in the same Evangelist’s account of Herod’s encounter with Jesus: When Herod saw Jesus, he was overjoyed. He had long wanted to see Him, having heard about Him and hoping to see some sign performed by Him. So he questioned Jesus at length, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him. Then Herod and his soldiers treated Him with contempt, mocking Him, arraying Him in a splendid robe, and sending Him back to Pilate (cf. Lk 23:8-11). In Herod’s mind, only a great prophet like Elijah could raise the dead (cf. 1 Kgs 17:17-24); only the prophets of old could declare the mysteries hidden by God from ages past. He dismissed Jesus as merely a carpenter, whose mother was Mary and whose father was Joseph — and he never acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God.
Today, we are called to be children of God. This means learning from Jesus to understand the Kingdom of God rightly; it means imitating John the Baptist and Elijah, growing in likeness to Christ in thought, word, and deed, following the guidance of the Holy Spirit, living this life well, proclaiming God’s love for the world, and bearing witness to that love in our actions.
O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life. 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
23 September 2026 Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) Gospel: Luke 9:1–6
Today is Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Pius. As the recently published Roman Missal recounts: Saint Pius (1887–1968), better known as Padre Pio, was born in Pietrelcina, Campania, Italy, and joined the Capuchin community at Marcone. Ordained to the priesthood in 1910, he moved six years later to San Giovanni Rotondo on the Gargano peninsula. Bearing the marks of Christ’s Passion on his body—known as the stigmata—he became renowned for his ministry in the confessional, spiritual direction, and the miracles wrought through him. In 1956, he founded the “Home to Relieve Suffering” adjacent to his friary. Despite his widespread devotion among the faithful, he faced considerable opposition, even from Church authorities. He was canonized in 2002.
Today, the passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke sets before us the Lord’s instruction to his first disciples. Let us reflect on this reading.
First, Luke tells us: Jesus summoned the Twelve Apostles and gave them authority and power over all demons, and to cure diseases. (cf. Luke 9:1)
We know that Israel was composed of twelve tribes. In the same way, Jesus called twelve disciples and sent them to the twelve tribes of Israel. He gave them authority to overcome all the forces of evil. What are these “demons”? They are the things that hinder us from knowing God and drawing near to him: money, wealth, fame, social status, every form of vanity, and all the ideologies that hold us captive.
Beyond this, Jesus sent his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. (cf. Luke 9:2) Clearly, this is the mission every Christian is called to fulfil throughout our lives. We are called to imitate Saint Pius, who bore the five wounds of Christ, by embracing a life of evangelical poverty, and thus proclaim to the world the reign of God that Jesus preached. In this way, the souls of those who live under the power of evil will no longer be like lepers covered in the sores of sin but will be filled instead with every grace God bestows.
Almighty ever-living God, who, by a singular grace, gave the Priest Saint Pio a share in the Cross of your Son and, by means of his ministry, renewed the wonders of your mercy, grant that through his intercession we may be united constantly to the sufferings of Christ, and so brought happily to the glory of the resurrection. 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.
22 September 2026 Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Luke 8:19–21
Today is Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time. The passage from the Gospel of Saint Luke presents us with an encounter in time and space between two groups belonging to distinct realms. I would like to offer some reflections on this reading.
First, Luke tells us: Jesus’ mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. (cf. Luke 8:19) The Evangelist wishes to show us that Mary, the Virgin Mother from Nazareth, and his brothers, having heard reports of all Jesus was doing in Capernaum, thought he was out of his mind and sought to restrain him. (cf. Mark 3:21) This mirrors the very situation faced by Christians living in this passing world today. For we too are constantly challenged by the secular powers: the ruler of this age and his agents often entangle us in the bonds of kinship, directing our energies toward the familial love we share with our parents and family, rather than fixing the heart of our faith on our relationship with God.
Today, Jesus declares: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (cf. Luke 8:21) It is easy to take these words literally, assuming Jesus means: “I do not recognize my mother, nor do I recognize my brothers.” The reality is quite the opposite. Our Lord Christ, rich in mercy, uses this veiled expression to extol his beloved Mother. The Blessed and Most Holy Virgin, when told by the Angel that she was to become the Mother of God, humbly replied: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (cf. Luke 1:26–38) After Jesus’ birth, through her intercession, he performed his first sign at Cana in Galilee, as recorded in the Gospel of John. (cf. John 2:1–12) He wishes to teach us that only by genuinely receiving the Kingdom he proclaims, and living out his word with sincere hearts, can we avoid living like the people of Nazareth. For then, though we dwell in this passing world, we foretaste the joys of the Kingdom of Heaven. We will no longer follow the desires of the flesh, but will be led by the Holy Spirit, setting our minds on the things of the Spirit. Imitating the Mother of God, we will do the will of the Father in all things, and thus truly become his brothers, sisters, and mother.
O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life. 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
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