September 26, 2016

Sts. Cosmas and Damian, martyrs

Lk 9: 46-50

An argument arose among them as to which one of them was the greatest. But Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a little child and put it by his side, and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me; for the least among all of you is the greatest.” John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him; for whoever is not against you is for you.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Common Goals

“Whoever is not against you is for you.” How backwards this sounds in today’s world.

“If you’re not with us, you’re against us” is what we’re more likely to hear. Voice your honest opinion about something political and brace yourself for the firestorm of criticism that can follow.

It’s time we start talking about our common goals: that every person feels loved and valued, that we create peace instead of division, that we lift up the lowly and show mercy to others. If we realize that we share these desires then hopefully we can see that we are all ultimately for the same things, foremost among those is Christ.

—Connor Walters is a communications coordinator at Saint Ignatius High School in Cleveland, OH. He also coaches rowing and co-moderates the school’s Saint Benedict Joseph Labre Ministry to the Homeless.

Prayer

Love consists in sharing
what one has
and who one is
with those one loves.
Love ought to show itself in deeds
more than words.

—St. Ignatius Loyola