Readings and meditation on the Word of God on the 23rd Sunday in ordinary time, September 7, 2025

Delivered by Svara Nirmala, Maxwell Gosal, Bryan Darwi dan Maria Delie from the Parish of Sacred Heart of Jesus Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Makassar, Indonesia. Wisdom 9: 13-18; Rs psalm 90: 3-4.5-6.12-13.14.17; Filemon 1: 9b.12-17; Luke 14: 25-33.MORTAL GOODS DO NOT BURDEN THE SOUL The title for our meditation on this 23rdSunday in Ordinary Time is: Mortal Goods Do Not Burden the Soul. Human life inthe world is often burdened by the desire to have many things of the world.Material things are necessary for daily life, but when our hearts become tooattached to worldly personalities, possessions, positions, or pleasures, oursouls become bound and difficult to be directed to God.  Our souls and spirits are created to return to God,the Creator, not to be confined by what will vanish with time. Jesus reminds usthat where your treasures are, there your heart is. So we are called to put ourtreasures in heaven, not in mortality. Jesus himself showed a clear example. He lived simply,did not grasp wealth, and had no place to lay His head. In the Gospels, Jesusdemands that His followers leave everything and follow Him. It does not meanthat we should not have relatives or friends and things, but that all of themshould not dominate our hearts. Only with a free heart can man enter into unionwith Christ and experience true peace in the Kingdom of God. To help us be free from mortal things, we need totrain our hearts with a few simple tips. First, learn to be grateful for whatis there without always chasing more. Gratitude makes us satisfied, andsatisfaction keeps us away from greed. Second, get into the habit of sharingand being generous. By giving, we break free from the power of possession.Third, use enough things as needed, not based on desires alone. Living simplyopens up more space for our spirits to be directed to God. But the journey of following Christ is not easy. Theworld with all its offers often tries to pull us back. Therefore, there areconditions that we need to hold on to in order to persevere in our choice tofollow Jesus. First, strengthen faith through daily prayer. Prayer is thebreath of the spirit that binds us to Christ.  Second, diligently read and meditate on God's Word,because the Word is a lamp that guides our steps. Third, stay involved in thefaith community. The brotherhood and sisterhood of faith will strengthen uswhen the temptations of the world feel heavy. Let us remember that our souls and spirits aretemples, where the Lord dwells. Everything that is mortal is only a tool, notan end. Do not let the things of the world become a burden that shackles thesoul. Instead, direct our hearts to Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and theLife.  Let us pray. In the name of the Father ... O Almighty God,strengthen our faith in You so that we may always walk in Your path to truecommunion with You. Our Father who art in heaven... In the name of the Father...