September 3: 2023- Every Splinter Worth The Gain

“You duped me oh Lord, and I let myself be duped. You were to strong for me and you triumphed.” Father Loomis teaches that the word “duped” in this context actually best translates to “seduced”- meaning that God drew Jeremiah in to His infinite love. The suffering he experiences is a by product of that love. Today’s reading from Jeremiah can be compared to Cardinal Pell in Melbourne Australia, who was falsely accused of crimes that he did not commit in an effort to silence him. The same comparison can be made to Catholics in today’s world, as we love God in a world that hates him. It does not make evangelization an easy feat- but once you’ve experienced the goodness and beauty of God, how can you deny His existence, even in the face of suffering for your belief? Just like countless saints who suffered for their love of God, so do we in today’s world as we face mockery for our love. But as we bare our cross, Christ is with us as we carry it. Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time: 1st Reading: Jeremiah 20:7-9 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 2nd Reading: Romans 12:1-2 Alleluia: Ephesians 1:17-18 Gospel: Matthew 16:21-27