A Life That Bears Witness

 

Readings 082626 

Every Sunday homily, 

I end the same way:  

Be good. Be holy. 

Preach the gospel by the way 

you live your life.  

Love one another.  

And are able to forgive.

That’s what the apostles did.  

They lived the gospel 

before they ever preached it.  

Their lives were the message.

But the Pharisees and the scribes—  

they did not.  

Jesus chastised them 

because their hearts 

did not match their words.  

“On the outside you appear righteous,  

but inside you are filled

with hypocrisy and evildoing.”

Saint Paul reminds us:  

“We instruct you…

to shun any brother

who walks in a disorderly way.”  

Not to condemn them—  

but to protect the community  

and to call them back to the way of Christ.

Then he says something beautiful:  

“We wanted to present ourselves 

as a model for you,  

so that you might imitate us.” 

A life that teaches more than words ever could.

And Scripture seals it with this promise:  

“Whoever keeps the word of Christ,  

the love of God is truly perfected in him.”

So today, let your life bear witness.  

Let your actions preach Christ.  

Let your mercy soften hearts.  

Let your forgiveness heal wounds.  

And let your love be the gospel

the world sees.

Be good.  

Be holy.  

And preach the gospel by the way you live.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, 

shape my heart 

to mirror Your mercy.  

Let my life preach Your gospel 

without hesitation.  

Cleanse what is hidden and heal 

what is wounded within me.  

Strengthen me to love, forgive, 

and walk in Your truth.  

Make me a living witness 

of Your holiness today.

Amen.

Stand Firm in What Is True

 

Readings 082526 

So many voices today  

trying to recreate Jesus,  

trying to reinterpret Scripture,  

trying to shout rapture,  

trying to predict end times,

waving the banner of Sola Scriptura — Bible alone.  

But the Church has always held 

something deeper,  

something older,  

something steadier:  

the living faith handed on,  

spoken and written,  

guarded and given.

St. Paul says it plainly:  

“Do not be shaken out of your minds…  

Let no one deceive you in any way.”

And then he gives the anchor:  

“Stand firm  

and hold fast to the traditions  

you were taught —  

by our word or by our letter.”

That’s the heart of it.  

Not panic.  

Not fear.  

Not chasing every new preacher  

or every new “spirit”  

or every new theory about the end.  

Just standing firm.  

Just holding fast.  

Just remaining rooted  

in what Christ entrusted  

to His apostles  

and His Church.

Because Jesus warns us too:  

“Woe to you…  

you have neglected the weightier things —  

judgment, mercy, fidelity.”

And that’s the danger today.  

Not that people talk about the end times —  

but that they forget the weightier things:  

the mercy that heals,  

the fidelity that steadies,  

the judgment that belongs to God alone.

So today we pray:  

Lord, calm our minds.  

Quiet the noise.  

Guard us from deception.  

Root us in Your Church,  

Your Word,  

Your living Tradition.  

Give us hearts that hold fast  

to what You have handed on —  

not shaken,  

not alarmed,  

not distracted —  

but faithful,  

merciful,  

and steady in Your truth.

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, 

anchor my heart in Your truth,  

steady my steps when voices swirl,  

keep me faithful to what 

You have handed on,  

and make my courage 

shine with Your light.

Amen