Here at St. Catherine Laboure we are committed to a genuine welcoming spirit, cultivating the love of God through Word and Sacrament. We are blessed with much activity and accomplishment over the past several months as we witness many new faces around the parish, especially as people have returned from long absences from the Catholic Faith and are discovering and rediscovering the beauty of the Sacramental Life.

This week we need to look at how we treat others. The readings warn against selfishness and ignoring those in need. God asks us to live with kindness and care, not to turn away from the poor or weak. Our faith is shown in how we act towards others. We are warned against being self-satisfied while others suffer, We hear about those who live in comfort while others do not. God wants justice for all people not just some of the people. God lifts the lowly and cares for the hungry, the sick, and the forgotten and if we love God and want to follow Him, we should be helping others, not just caring for ourselves.

The readings this Sunday focuses on living with honesty and faithfulness. It calls us to put God above money and what we do have to use to serve others. Wealth and possessions are not bad, but they should never control us. God wants be asking for peace and guidance in the world.

Ordinary Time gives us perspective on Jesus' motives and mission. We reflect on his miracles, parables, and encounters in order to gain such perspective. Today we contemplate the meaning behind the parable of the rich man and the steward. On the surface logically that it is about considering what we are using our wealth to achieve. If we have been blessed with material wealth, we must manage such wealth in account of how we utilize such a gift for building the kingdom of God. That which much is given, much is expected. We are not called to be stingy or greedy, but we are called to recognize how God has blessed us, materially, spiritually, or by way of our talents and gifts, that cost nothing, but by us utilizing them in a magnified way to serve the Lord.

The Exaltation of the Cross is a special commemoration for the Diocese of Phoenix as it marks the anniversary of the Papal Visit of St. Pope John Paul II in 1987. Phoenix welcomed the Pontiff, and was blessed to host such a visit, especially welcoming the would-be saint! The Exaltation of the Cross is important because we contemplate more profoundly the meaning of the Cross from which Christ has been lifted up. We are confident in the triumphant victory won by Christ’s embrace of the Cross and are affirmed in our salvific heritage.

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is a sign of the love and victory of Jesus. Jesus made a sacrifice to save us from our sins. We should look at the Cross not as a symbol of suffering and death, but a sign of hope and new life because of His resurrection. God can bring good even from pain. By the Cross we can face our own struggles with courage and offer them to God just as His Son did. We need to learn to accept hardships with love and hope as we place our trust in Christ and believe that His victory over death can guide us through our trials. Today’s Feast has been celebrated by the Church for centuries and is a symbol of our faith. We celebrate this feast on September 14 because on this day in the year 335, the Church in Jerusalem dedicated a new church built on the site where Jesus died and rose from the dead and the church was built to honor both His crucifixion and His resurrection.

Did you really pay attention to the readings today? Jesus who usually tells us about love, such as the love of God, the love of family and the love of neighbor is now telling us to hate. To hate our father and mother, our brother and sisters and even our own selves. We must be careful of how we interpret what Jesus is saying. We need to know that this was ment to be understood in a symbolic manner. We must really love God more than we love others or ourselves.

He must be at the center of our lives. Following Jesus requires sacrifice and we must be willing to put Him above all else, even when it is difficult, even before family or friends. We need to be prepared for whatever happens in life. Faith is like that too. Faith takes real commitment with trust and strength. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us because we can’t know God’s ways on our own.

Wow, really are we up for the task? Today’s gospel is asking do we have skin in this game or do we not? Jesus says come after me and be my disciple! In doing so are we going to tally up the cost before all hands are in? After all we really need to know what we’re getting into first, in order to make a substantial commitment. Are we going to leave all behind and follow him? Will he be our everything? The stakes are high in this invitation that we receive from the Lord. It’s all or nothing, we’re either in or we’re out! We must discern distinctively because there’s no turning back. We know Jesus is not asking for our response in a half-hearted way either, or in a way that we are lukewarm, but he wants us entirely.