Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
One thing most people really struggle with is change. We enter this week, a new school year, summer winding down, back to a more normal work schedule, we are asked to change, adapt, and grow. Every Christian journey calls us to change—echoing the words of the prophet Wisdom: we cannot know the mind of God unless He grants us wisdom and the Holy Spirit to correct our ways (Wisdom 9:13–18b). This Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time offers a profound invitation to recalibrate our lives through Scripture and the wisdom of the saints.
- From uncertainty to wisdom
The First Reading reminds us: human plans are timid and uncertain, our bodies burden our souls, and we struggle even to grasp what lies before us—much less the mysteries above. Only God, who grants wisdom by sending the Holy Spirit, can guide us to straight paths. Some of our students walking from car line into our beautiful school for the first time expressed fear, yet when they left they were filled with joy! Our transformation is a process of letting go of fears and trusting God’s Spirit to reshape our hearts.
- Grounding our days in humility and gratitude
Psalm 90 teaches that a thousand years are like yesterday; human life is fleeting like the field’s grass, flourishing in the morning and withering by evening. In this brevity lies grace: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart” (Psalm 90:12). St. Teresa of Avila embraced this awareness when she wrote, “Let nothing disturb you… God alone suffices.” In accepting life’s fragility, we grow in humility, gratitude, and dependence on God.
- Transforming relationships through welcome
In Paul’s letter to Philemon, he urges Philemon to welcome Onesimus—not as a returned servant, but “no longer as a slave but as a dear brother” (Philemon 1:16). Here is the essence of Christian growth: adaptation in community, letting go of old categories and embracing one another in Christ. As St. Francis of Assisi once said, “For it is in giving that we receive.” True change happens when we extend grace, break down barriers and foster self-sacrifice.
- The costly call to discipleship
Finally, in the Gospel of Luke (14:25–33), Jesus teaches that following Him may demand everything—even family, possessions, or comfort—if they become barriers to growth in discipleship. Yet, as St. Paul reminds us, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am” (Philippians 4:11). Growth as Christians means learning to carry our crosses, stripping away attachments that hinder our way to God.
Putting it all together
— Change begins with God-given wisdom and the humility to be open to what God has in store.
— Adaptation means aligning our lives and relationships according to Gospel love, as Paul advises Philemon with Onesimus.
— Growth is the ongoing journey of discipleship, surrendering what holds us back to follow Christ more fully—like a tower built carefully.
As we reflect on these readings this weekend, may we open ourselves to the Spirit’s correction, value each day with wisdom, welcome others, and embrace the demands of discipleship. Let us pray with the saints that our lives may be ever more shaped by change, adaptation, and growth—for the glory of God.
In peace,
Fr. Tom Lanza
Pastor, St. Matthias Parish & School