25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 19, 2021)

In the Gospel today, Our Lord gives us yet another reason why we must defend the fundamental right to life of the unborn when He said: “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Every time we Christians choose life, we choose Christ and the Father. Our openness to life is openness to grace, for as St. James says in the Second Reading, “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.”
Let us then not be consumed by our passions, but seek the “wisdom from above” to continue to work to build a culture where children are welcomed in life and protected by law.
As Catholics preaching the Gospel of Life we must be careful to be people of integrity. The Book of Wisdom warns us of those who seek to test us to see whether we really believe what we preach. If we preach against abortion, we must also show love for our children; if we preach against euthanasia, we must show respect for the aged. Let us live by our words.

That our country may become a Culture of Life that rejects abortion, and more effectively welcomes children for Jesus’ sake, we pray to the Lord...