26th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Today (as I type) is Wednesday (9/16).  We celebrated the first Masses with the school kids at the St Mary Campus.  The first reading was from Corinthians (a favorite for wedding celebrations) and Paul speaks about LOVE.  You know the passages – “Love is patient, Love is kind…”  Within that chapter he speaks about how to love and the need to do so – “without love/loving I am nothing and the great things I might do are nothing.” 

I asked the kids what they can do to show love and, of course, they were spot on – hugs and kisses to family, doing small things with great love, reaching out, being kind…

The one thing I immediately think of (and people are probably sick of hearing about) is the safety protocols that we are asked to do and especially PROPERLY wearing a mask.  I know it is not fun and I know that it can be uncomfortable, but if I do this out of LOVE then it is doable.  If I do it because I am told to do so then it becomes suffering and I am miserable and probably making others miserable also.

If I do it out of LOVE for others (and for myself) then there is a greater purpose and I am connecting with the LOVE that God has shown us and the command that he has given us –

“Love as I have loved you.”

I very much dislike being miserable and uncomfortable so if I can change my situation or my perspective I will do my best to do so.  In this case I believe LOVE is the answer and not just some bumper sticker cliché.

All this reminds me of a video I did on Suffering vs. Sacrifice.  You can view it on the Catholic Community of Waukesha YouTube channel.  It is entitled Discovering Sacrifice. 

God Bless you ALLways,

Fr. Chuck