Our Gospel today reminded me about the new evangelization that recent popes such as Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI have proclaimed to us. This new evangelization is a plan to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the world and particularly to those countries in the West that have been traditionally Christian for centuries, but where many Christians have left their faith for a more worldly lifestyle in recent years. This evangelization is to start with us, with educating and forming ourselves in the faith before we go out to evangelize others. In the Gospel today, Christ tells us that before we help others, we must first take care of ourselves. Before we proclaim the Gospel, we are to be true believers ourselves, to follow the true Gospel of Christ, to know what that Gospel really teaches.
We hear our Gospel today in the context of the anniversary of 9/11, of the terrorist attacks on the United States. We remember that day and those who died that day. We think of the many first responders who died that day serving others. We also think of the values of Christ’s Good News that are preached in our Gospel reading today, of the way we are called to peace, reconciliation, and healing. We pray that we work to build a world where something like that cannot happen again.
In the Sunday readings these past few weeks and in the readings this upcoming Sunday, it talks about how clinging to wrath and anger overtaking our lives and leading a life that is motivated by vengeance and revenge is not the way of the Lord. We are to forget what happened on 9/11, but we are not to become people of hate and anger. We are called to be people of faith, hope, and love. We are called to build a society based on the principles of our faith. May God always lead us and guide us.
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