24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (September 11, 2022)

Just as the Israelites “turned aside” from God’s way to worship, sacrifice, and cry out to a molten calf, could it not be said with some justice that we modern people also commit idolatry by worshiping the god named “Choice”?
After all, we literally sacrifice our children on the altar of choice, and when it comes to our so-called right to “choose”, we are as” stiff-necked” as the Israelites were, foolishly mistaking true freedom for libertinism.
Yet, as Paul says in today’s second reading, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” For those who have had an abortion, there is no need to despair, for listen to the tender words of Our Lord: “I tell you…there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.”

That we may work for better alternatives than capital punishment and that wrongdoers may find repentance and healing, we pray to the Lord…