September 18
Sunday
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Is 55:6–9
Seek Yahweh while he may be found; call to him while he is near. Let the wicked abandon his way, let him forsake his thoughts, let him turn to Yahweh for he will have mercy, for our God is generous in forgiving.
This week’s second reading began with the words, “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.” (Phil 2:6) In other words, while Jesus possessed divine equality and the right to appear in the fullness of His glory, he refrained from adopting such honor.
St. Jude, stay with me. Though the journey of learning is long and often difficult, your quiet presence gives me courage. Sustain my trust in myself, my teachers, and fellow students. Help me to let go of my fears and believe in the growth that is happening, even though I may not see it right away. As I embark again on this mission of study, I ask for the grace to be wise in mind and word, compassionate at heart, and full of energy and zeal as I seek to learn the ways of God’s world and come to understand how my gifts may serve their best purpose. Amen.
We are given the responsibility to be our brothers’ keeper, as we heard in this week’s readings. God does not speak of worldly responsibility, rather of the spiritual accountability we have toward our neighbors. As devotees to St. Jude, we know the power that comes from placing our needs in the prayers and hearts of others.
