Our Ministries
28 Aug

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Know Better—Do Better!

“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” These words from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans seem to be an exhortation to all of us today.  In the confusion and conflicts, the strains on relationships of all kinds, various pressures, the storms and wildfires, and the strong pleas for justice, many of us are searching for an understanding of what God is asking of us.

In her preaching for this weekend, Sister Nicole Trahan, a young Marianist Sister from San Antonio (https://www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/08302020) describes her personal journey to renew her mind, to seek transformation and to discern the will of God. Her mantra is “Know better. Do better.”

Conforming to this age might be giving in to cynicism, despair, paralysis. It might mean competition for limited resources rather than sharing generously. Jesus tells Peter that following him means taking up our cross. Pope Francis in The Joy of the Gospel says: “Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others. He hopes that we will…enter into the reality of other people’s lives and know the power of tenderness.”

What opportunities do we have to enter into the suffering of others? How can we turn our laments about the way life is into hope? Each time we participate in the Eucharist, we hear the words “this holy and living sacrifice.” Are we offering sacrifices of our own?

One opportunity to “Know better” and “Do better” is the training being offered this Friday evening and Saturday on Recognizing the Stranger. Archbishop Gustavo, with funding from the Campaign for Human Development, is partnering with COPS/Metro to help parish members throughout the diocese to renew our minds, change our hearts, and move us to action. Several of our parishioners and I are signed up. Join us!

St. Francis of Assisi prayed: “Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out Your holy and true command. Amen.”

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