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FILLED WITH JOY It has been said that joy is an infallible sign of the presence of God. A thread of joy runs through today's liturgy. Jeremiah prophesies the joy of the exiles returning from their captivity in Babylon. The Responsorial, Psalm 126, also refers to the return of the exiles: "The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy." And the gospel relates the joy of blind Bartimaeus as he receives his healing and follows Jesus.

A RANSOM FOR MANY "Jesus paid it all; all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow." (“Jesus Paid it All” written in 1865 by Elvina M. Hall.) I love these lines from an old hymn which state succinctly the basic gospel message. Today we hear about the Suffering Servant—one of us as well as God's own Son—who came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

PRICELESS! I remember a credit card commercial that would always end with that one word - priceless! We well know that there are some priceless and extremely valuable things that money just can't buy. Our Scriptures today point to wisdom as a priceless gift of God. The first reading describes the author's prayer for wisdom. The gospel relates the encounter of the rich man with Jesus, who is Incarnate Wisdom.

Today we hear about God's plan for marriage. From the first pages of Genesis to Jesus's words in the Gospel, God's original intention for marriage is revealed. With the multitude of conflicts and controversies swirling around us now, it is no secret that there is also much controversy regarding marriage and sexuality. Today the Church presents us with the light and truth of God's holy word in the midst of the darkness and confusion generated by the world, the flesh, and the Devil.

"I think it's a case of spiritual warfare," I remember saying to him. Years ago, I was discussing a difficult pastoral situation occurring in our youth group with one of the leaders of that ministry. As we continued to talk, the leader said to me, "I find it interesting that you look at this as spiritual warfare...I wouldn't have thought of that." And I remember answering him, "I tend to look at everything from the viewpoint of spiritual warfare!" Because I think I do. And I think that's really the only way to look at things.

NOT IN THE GROUP “Wait, they're not supposed to be doing that...they don't belong to our group.” How familiar this sounds—we've heard it before. (Maybe we've even said it before!) We see an example in the first reading with Eldad and Medad—got to love those names!—prophesying “outside the group.” We see it in the gospel with the case of the “unfamiliar exorcist.” The lesson here is that God gifts and anoints whomever he will. “Our God is in heaven and whatever he wills, he does.” (Psalm 115:3)

A SHAMEFUL DEATH Just like last week, once again this Sunday we hear Jesus speak about his sufferings, death, and resurrection. The first reading from the Book of Wisdom relates a prophecy of Jesus' Passion and "shameful death." Even though we are well into Ordinary Time, we are reminded that we always have to confront the cross, and thank God, also the resurrection.

THE CROSS September 14 is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This Sunday, just two days before, our readings have us consider the Suffering Servant from Isaiah and Jesus predicting his suffering and death in the gospel. It almost sounds like an “early Lent” here in mid-September, but any time is a good time to keep the Cross before us!

BE OPENED! Isaiah prophesied, “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of the deaf be cleared.” Jesus healed the deaf man by saying, “Ephphatha! (that is, ‘Be opened!’).” The Responsorial, Psalm 146, says, “The Lord gives sight to the blind.” Jesus himself gives examples of healing the blind, lame, lepers and the deaf as signs that he is indeed the Messiah (cf. Matt. 11:5; Luke 7:22).

“Can you give me a word to help me?” Early in our marriage, Patti and I had been praying about a difficult situation. We were both really trying to seek the Lord, but it was causing a lot of stress. Patti asked me to give her some word from the Lord that would bring some light and peace. Without thinking I blurted out, “God is greater.” I remember that Patti looked a little taken aback. “That's it? What does that mean? Greater than what?” she asked. “Everything.” I said. “Whatever it is. This situation, our lives, our family, our work, our finances, our problems, our joys, our sorrows...you name it—God is greater!” This exchange sounds a little humorous when we look back on it now, but that word really did bring a great deal of light, peace, and help at the time. In fact, Patti made a sign saying “GOD IS GREATER” in block letters and plastered it on our refrigerator. It helped then and since then—and still helps today.

“ROAD CLOSED! BRIDGE OUT! TURN AROUND!” Important - indeed rather critical - warnings, you might say. And it would be foolish not to heed them. The Lord has given us the same kind of critical warnings in his statutes and decrees – what Scripture calls a “word of truth.” Jesus reiterates this in the gospel, along with a “course correction” regarding which commands are more serious and which are “human tradition.”

Today’s readings, like so many in our Sunday liturgies, present us with the demands of God’s revealed word and challenge us to renew our obedience to that word. Joshua calls for a clear decision on the part of the tribes of Israel as to whether or not they intend to serve the Lord. Jesus calls for a decision from his apostles – to leave or to continue following him, despite the “hard saying” about eating his flesh and drinking his blood. Likewise, the Lord today asks us for our decision – to live in obedience to his word or to go our own way. His sayings may be hard, but the choice remains clear – “to whom shall we go?”

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was defined as a dogma of faith by the Venerable Pope Pius XII in 1950. He did not, however, settle the question of whether or not Mary died before being taken to heaven. Some hold that, since death is a punishment for original sin from which Mary was preserved from the moment of her conception, she did not have to die. Another opinion holds that since Mary was so closely united with her Son, who suffered death on the cross for our salvation, she also would have experienced physical death, just as Jesus did. The question was, and still is, left open.

It’s no big secret that we need nourishment in order to stay alive. All the more do we need it if we are doing something strenuous, like a long hike (as Elijah found out). The Holy Eucharist is the food the Lord provides to nourish us as we make our way through this pilgrim land. It is the seed of eternal life, planted within us now, which will come to full fruition in eternity.

“Could you pray with us and give us some word from the Lord for our marriage?” The young married couple standing before us spoke perfect English. Noteworthy because we were in the middle of Slovakia, where my wife Patti and I had been invited to give a retreat for priests and a Day of Renewal for Catholic Charismatic Renewal leaders. We were impressed by the number of young adults who were committed to the Lord in a country which had suffered under atheistic communism for over 40 years.

About two years ago, a Pew Research poll found that 69% of US Catholics did not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I was thinking that it might be interesting to survey how many Catholics actually believe that Jesus is true God and true man. Loss of faith in the Eucharist might well be indicative of a loss of faith in the divine nature of Jesus. As Jesus says in today’s gospel: “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

It has been pointed out that the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, that is, the Feeding of the 5000, is the only miracle of Jesus (besides his own resurrection) that is recorded in all four gospels. And in addition, there is still another account of food multiplication recorded in Matthew and Mark – this time for 4000. Multiple multiplications! The Lord demonstrates his compassion and willingness to work miracles to feed his hungry followers. As the Responsorial, Psalm 145, says: “The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.”

What moves the heart of Jesus to pity? It is the sight of people seeking for him like “sheep without a shepherd.” In today’s liturgy we hear about God shepherding his people, both in the reading from Jeremiah and in the gospel. The Responsorial is the beautiful and consoling Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want.”

GO FORTH! In last week’s first reading, we heard the call of Ezekiel to be a prophet. This week there is the prophetic call of Amos. We are also told about Jesus sending out the Twelve Apostles on their first missionary journey. Today gives us a reminder that the Lord instructs us to “occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13), that is, to keep busy trying to spread the gospel and build the kingdom of God until we see the Lord.

Imagine that you were sent by the Lord to give a dire warning or a “hard word” to your family and neighbors in your own home town. Today’s readings describe the experiences of Ezekiel and the Lord Jesus doing that very thing. Prophets don’t have an easy time of it when preaching to their own!