Homilies for September 2025

For September 7, September 14 (Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross), September 21, and September 28

Twenty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time – September 7, 2025

Readings: Wisdom 9:13–18b • Psalm 90:3–4, 5–6, 12–13, 14 and 17 • Philemon 9–10, 12–17 • Luke 14:25–33
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090725.cfm

There is a rare depiction of Jesus’ crucifixion at the Monastery of Sant’Antonio in Polesine, Ferrara, Italy. The cross is upright. To one side of the cross, a Roman soldier holds back Saint John and Mary, the grieving mother of Jesus. On the other side of the cross, men throw dice for Jesus’ tunic. A ladder is placed against the cross. Jesus is shown willingly mounting the ladder to place himself on the cross. No soldiers coerce him. No one in the crowd pushes him. Enthusiastically, he grabs the rungs of the ladder. Energetically he climbs the ladder toward his crucifixion. Though the depiction of Jesus voluntarily placing himself on the cross in this way is rare, it is not unique in the history of Art. Nor does it portray a controversial theological point. Jesus did go to the cross of his own volition. Jesus did die willingly for you and me. Indeed, in a commentary on the Gospel of Luke, Saint Ambrose writes that Jesus ascended the cross “as a victor ascends a triumphal chariot.”

Why would Jesus say, “If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple?” Obviously, Jesus does not want us to hate. Jesus wants us to love. But Jesus uses this strong language to press upon us that we cannot be His disciple unless we love him first and foremost. We cannot be His disciple unless we are willing to trust him above all else. So often, the world chooses violence and oppression over mercy and love and justice. We don’t need to look too far to see examples of how the world chooses cruelty over love. When Jesus took up his cross, he willing stepped into the worst human suffering to say, “Even here I am with you!” He didn’t deny His cross to avoid pain. He didn’t deny His cross to embrace comfort. He didn’t even deny His cross so that His dear mother wouldn’t have to suffer. He put the cross above all else to show us how to take up our own cross. We are to choose love mercy and peace over fear, anger, hostility every day!

Elizabeth Bruenig serves as a volunteer witness to state-sanctioned executions. In some way, by agreeing to do this, she follows Jesus on the cross to put more trust in mercy than violence. Certainly, she understands why so many people support the death penalty. Her husband’s sister, Heather, was brutally beaten and murdered. The man could have received the death penalty, but her family, because of their Catholic faith, vigorously fought against it. The family mourns Heather and remains heartbroken. However, they realized that Heather could not be restored to them, and they struggled with how to respond to this reality. They could have responded with anger and revenge. But they realized there was another possible response: mercy. They decide to show mercy, rather than push for the death penalty for Heather’s murderer. They realize that taking up one’s cross always requires us to choose mercy, love and justice over anger, hatred and fear.

The Good News of the Gospel is that Jesus took up His cross to show us that human suffering can lead to redemption.

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – September 14, 2025

Readings: Numbers 21:4b–9 • Psalm 78:1bc–2, 34–35, 36–37, 38 • Philippians 2:6–11 • John 3:13–17
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091425.cfm

There are some things that we would rather forget. How is it that tragic things that happen to us can be transformed into lifegiving experiences? The Scriptures today cause us to grapple with the question of how ugly memories can become those that we find most transformative, most redemptive. In the Old Testament reading we hear about the Israelites in the desert. They are tired. They are thirsty. They are worn out. To punish them, God sent poisonous snakes to bite them and many died. Many were sick and dying. Moses prayed for the people. God told him to make a bronze serpent in the likeness of those that had bitten the people. God told Moses to raise it up on a staff and instruct the people to look on it. As many of the people who looked on it were saved.

By looking upon the snake, the people recalled that their complaining had brought about their pain. By recalling that which had caused their suffering, the people regretted their sin and were cured. They were saved. Likewise, in the Gospel, Jesus says that after he is crucified, he too should be raised for all to look at. Just like in the story of the serpents in the Old Testament, all who look on the suffering body of Christ and the cross, the horrible instrument of his torture, and believe will be saved. Gazing on the suffering of Jesus makes us a bit more compassionate, a bit more merciful, a bit more kind. After all, Jesus suffered for our sins! Jesus suffered so that we might have life! Jesus suffered, died and was raised to show us that love does not die!

Some years ago, I heard a story about a woman who was a keen example of giving oneself. Her name was Susan. Susan had been happily married for many years. She and her husband had several children. She was a stay-at-home mom. Everything seemed perfect. One evening, her husband didn’t return from work in time for dinner. She waited for an hour, but finally, she fed the children. She waited for him until 9:00 and finally, she ate without him. At 11:00 p.m., he still hadn’t returned, and he hadn’t called. She went to bed thinking something came up at work. The next morning, he still hadn’t returned home. She called his office, and they hadn’t seen him. Later she noticed that his suitcase was missing and many of his things. It was then that she noticed a note on top of the dresser saying that he was leaving her. Not only that, but he had also cleared out their bank account and left without a trace.

Overnight, Susan’s perfect world changed. She had to sell the house; get a job; she became a single mom. After many years, and having raised her children alone, her ex-husband called unexpectedly. He was very sick. It was terminal. He had only a few months to live. He had nowhere to go. Would she take care of him, he asked? She asked some trusted friends what they thought she should do. They said she was crazy to consider it. She asked her children, now grown, what they thought she should do. They also said she was crazy to consider it. She took it to prayer and asked the Lord what HE thought she should do. The Lord told her to look at the cross. To look at his suffering body. Surely, when she looked upon her ex-husband, she recalled her own cross and how he had abandoned her. But she also remembered how the Lord remained and brought her back to life. The Lord reminded her that love doesn’t die and that he would bring her through this good deed. As she looked at the cross and the suffering Christ upon it, the Lord told her what she must do, and she took her ex-husband into her home.

The Good News of the Gospel is that there is no need for us to be afraid or to recall ugly, unhappy memories because through them the Lord saves. When we recall how the Lord saved us, we are able be the face of Jesus for others.

Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time – September 21, 2025

Readings: Amos 8:4–7 • Psalm 113:1–2, 4–6, 7–8 • 1 Timothy 2:1–8 • Luke 16:1–13
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092125.cfm

What are all the surprises about in today’s Gospel?

First, the steward is surprised. He has lost his job! His master is angry because he has heard some rumors about his performance. The steward doesn’t take time to confirm or deny these rumors. Right away, he acted to ensure that he would have friends who would welcome him after he was out of the job. Quickly, he called in his master’s debtors. To one who owed 100 measures of olive oil he said, “Here is the promissory note. Make it 50!” To another who owed 100 kors of wheat he said, “Here is the promissory note. Make it 80!” Perhaps the biggest surprise comes when the master discovers what the steward has done. Rather than revile him, he praises the steward for acting prudently. The master is impressed because the steward knows how to ensure that he gets what he wants! So what are all the surprises about in today’s Gospel? They seem to suggest that a little bit of nice on the part of the Steward toward the debtors covers up a lot of whatever stupid things he did to get fired. Even his master is praising his actions! Yes, a little bit of nice can cover up a lot of stupid!

We know how kindness can take us by surprise and transform lives. When we hear stories like the one about Liza Scott, a 7-year-old in Texas who started a lemonade stand to help pay for her own brain surgery, we are moved by her cheerfulness and determination. When people heard her story, the community rallied and pitched in to help pay her medical bills. Once her bills were paid, Liza continued with the lemonade stand and donated the proceeds to help the parents of infants in need, and the community continued to rally around her cause. A little bit of nice on the part of Liza covered up a lot of stupid, like the fact that a 7-year-old should need to worry about her medical bills or that babies born into the wealthiest nation should be in need.

We gather around the altar to remember the generosity of our Lord. He gives us his own Body and Blood in the Eucharist to assist us in surprising others with kindness and mercy and generosity. It’s true! A little bit of nice covers up a lot of stupid!

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – September 28, 2025

Readings: Amos 6:1a, 4–7 • Psalm 146:7, 8–9, 9–10 • 1 Timothy 6:11–16 • Luke 16:19–31
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092825.cfm

Sr. Cyril Mooney is a missionary in Calcutta, India. For many years Sr. Cyril taught in elite schools in India and noticed the dire poverty outside her door. One day on the street a little girl, eight years old, ran up to offer her a cup of tea. The little girl lived on the street. “What do you do?” Sr. Cyril asked her. “I pick pockets,” the little girl answered, “but I only pick what I need.”

“What do you do with a child like that?” Sr. Cyril began asking herself. Sr. Cyril began opening the doors of her elite school to street children. Her dream was that the rich children of the doctors and lawyers she taught would notice the poor children who lived on the street. So, she began a program for those she called “the Rainbow Children.” The Rainbow Children eat, sleep, play, and learn inside the school. It is a safe place for these children of the street. And two hours each week the children of the doctors and lawyers are required to sit with the rainbow children and help them. The children of the doctors and lawyers are noticing. When they notice that friends of their parents ignore child labor laws and bring in children to do house work, they complain. When they notice children living outside their own doors, they bring them to school to live along with the Rainbow Children. They themselves organize health clinics to help the children of the street.

Sr. Cyril and her students aren’t really doing much compared to all the problems in Calcutta. But they are noticing and they are noticing the problem, at least opening their hearts to these poor children. This is all the Lord asks of us!

Moses and the prophets implore us simply to think of others, especially those less fortunate and to open our hearts to them. The Scriptures plead with us not to use material wealth simply for our own consumption while ignoring the needs of others. The Scriptures ask us to simply notice the needs of others and to open our hearts to them.

The Scriptures really aren’t asking a lot of us. They are simply asking us to take notice. they are not even requiring us to open our doors to those in need and bring them into the house. But they are asking us to unlock our doors and our hearts and take notice of the needs of others. Jesus tells us the story of Dives as an example of someone unwilling to open his heart to the needs of others. Certainly Dives was very thick . . . stupid even. Can you imagine how thick this Dives was? Every day Dives feasted sumptuously. He dressed in fine linen clothing. Meanwhile, Lazarus sat outside his gate unnoticed. Dives didn’t do anything for him, barely even taking a notice. Even the dogs came and licked his sores, but Dives just stepped over him. Lazarus would have been happy with the table scraps, but Dives didn’t think enough even to offer Lazarus the table scraps. The thickness, stupidity even, of Dives did not end with his life. We see in the story how thick he was. When Dives died he went to hell. When Lazarus died he was welcomed into heaven. Dives saw Lazurus enjoying heaven while he himself was in torment. Dives says, “Send Lazarus down here to serve me, I am in torment.” Dives was so thick, so self-absorbed that he couldn’t even think to say, “I wish I would have helped him!” God tells Dives that it impossible for Lazarus to help Dives. In his life Dives had plenty of opportunity to help Lazarus, but he didn’t even offer him the table scraps. The Scriptures are reminding us again that even a little bit of nice can cover up a lot of stupid and Dives was very stupid!

I once heard that if God’s love is everywhere, it must also be in hell. But what makes hell, hell, is that the people there cannot open their hearts to God and love. Dives suggests this is true. Even in hell, Dives cannot repent from being self-absorbed. Dives only notices Lazarus because he wants something. “Send him down here,” Dives says, “to serve me.” There is not a trace of remorse or repentance in Dives. Dives’ door and his heart continue to be locked. Each of us holds the key to unlocking our own hearts. We unlock our hearts when we notice the street person asking us for money. We don’t necessarily need to give the individual money, but we do need to notice.