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24th Sunday |
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Contents: Volume 2 - September 13, 2026
1. -- Lanie LeBlanc OP - < lanie@leblanc.one>2. -- Fr. Jude Siciliano OP - <FrJude@JudeOP.org> 3. --(Your reflection can be here!)
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****************************************************** Anger, death, and unforgiveness are the three main topics in the Scripture readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time. These are three biggies, none of which can be addressed in a totally comfortable way for the homilist nor the listeners. In my opinion, that makes it essential to be open to listening to the Voice within ourselves as well as our own voice and the voice of others, including the preacher.
We can start with excuses. We all have had incidents where our first passionate reaction to something is objectively justified. Passionate does not need to be out -of-control. Right there (sooner not later) is where we need to stop and consult that inner Voice about what God might be thinking. Re-reading Psalm 103 will indeed remind us how we are treated repeatedly by the Lord and how we should strive to be “kind and merciful” toward others as well.
That is easier said than done, as we all know. After several personal or family instances that involved the authorities or authority figures, I feel that the only way to shake loose of any hateful feelings is to establish and reiterate, deep in one’s heart, that the Almighty will take care of the matter, now or in the end. It is also an effective way to stop giving the other person any power over you and to regain your own power to make level-headed decisions, especially if feeling “kind and merciful” is a “not quite yet”.
Last week, we were instructed to “stand up and speak out” against injustice. There are ways to do that without feeling or acting hateful, including advocating reasonable laws, consequences for crime or wrong-doing as well as emotional distress, and caring for victims and their families. The Remembrance of the 25th anniversary of 9/11 this weekend can include a prayerful reflection of these thoughts with proper attention to the long-lasting after-effects of such a horrible day.
Also embedded in the Lord’s reminders is the responsibility to take care of oneself. Forgiveness, to me, does not mean necessarily returning to a relationship with a person who needs to be forgiven for harming you or your family! It also means maintaining healthy boundaries and distance, both physical and emotional, from those who have harmed you. In our world today, where emotions run high and often unchecked, God and an experienced counselor can guide the path to recovery and wholeness for all concerned, especially in difficult situations.
How does all this match with Jesus' answer in the Gospel passage to forgive 77 times or even 7 times 70? Passed the elementary students’ level of the ability to multiply comes adult faith, good intentions, and prayerful actions. It takes a lot of prayerful self-control and relinquishing control of God-things to God in order to move inch by inch closer to the ways of the God who loves each of us so unconditionally. We have the examples of many a saint who listened to the Voice within and allowed God to guide them through drastic changes. Let us pray that we, both ourselves and the ones who have harmed us or continue to do harm to others, will try to multiply small ways of kindness that can lead to deeper ways of being merciful. What a different world that would be!!!
Blessings, Dr. Lanie LeBlanc OP Southern Dominican Laity
****************************************************** From today’s Gospel reading:
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?
Reflection:
In Jesus teaching it is quite clear, we must be known by our forgiveness, not because we have to earn it from God. But because God has already forgiven us without reservation or limits. If we hold back forgiveness from others, then this is a sign we have not accepted it ourselves from God and allowed it to enter our hearts to change us. Christians are those who live and act in the light of God’s forgiveness.
So, we ask ourselves:
· After receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation am I convinced in faith that all I have confessed has been forgiven? · When else do I experience an assurance of God’s forgiveness?
Click here for a link to this Sunday’s readings:
Fr. Jude Siciliano OP - <FrJude@JudeOP.org>
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A service of The Order of Preachers,
The Dominicans. (form revised 10/13/2025) |
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