27th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Tuesday - The turn toward Christ

 For almost the rest of the liturgical year, save for the week or so before Advent begins, the first readings for weekday Mass will be taken from the letters of Saint Paul.  We started his letter to the Galatians yesterday.  In two weeks we will read his letter to the Ephesians.  We’ll have a few days of his letter to the Philippians in November, followed by his letter to Titus and then Philemon.  

To call the letters of Saint Paul “foundational to our Christian faith” is an understatement.  They shape our understanding of who Jesus is; they shape our liturgical prayers, they give us insight into the life of the early Church before the Gospels were even written.  

In today’s reading, Saint Paul gives us a little biographical information.  He says, “You heard of my former way of life in Judaism, how I persecuted the Church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.”  We are reminded that this great missionary once put Christians to death—he considered himself an enemy of the Church. But on the road to Damascus, in the middle of his fury, all that changed.  The Risen Christ appeared to Paul, Jesus spoke a word to his heart and let a ray of his divine light into the darkness of Paul’s mind.  “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting”.  

From then on, Paul became an ambassador of God’s saving grace, a light of hope and mercy for sinners of all nations and races, a faithful messenger of God’s unconditional goodness.  He goes from being an extreme persecutor of the faith, to an extreme evangelist.  

As we read from the Pauline Epistles over the next few weeks, we do well to consider how God calls us to open our hearts more deeply to his divine Word and to his service.

In the Gospel we hear about another type of conversion—Martha is called away from something good to something better. The Lord points out that there is something more important than her domestic busyness. Martha’s focus on worldly matters have kept her from the deeper sharing in the Lord’s presence.

Both Paul and Martha challenge us to consider what we must turn away from in order to turn more deeply to the Lord. Our own preconceptions, our own habits, our prejudices can keep us from the fullness of life that God wants for each of us. 

May we allow the Word of God to shape us, form us, and lead us more deeply into the life of Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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That hearing the call to conversion preached by the Church, all men may turn away from their sins to the mercy of Christ.

That world leaders may look upon the Son of God, believe in him, and seek the peace and justice that only he can bring.

That our young people may take seriously the missionary call of Christ, that they will turn away from the evils of our culture to spread the good news of Christ’s eternal kingdom.

For all whose lives are marked by suffering, may they come to know the healing and peace of Christ, especially victims of the hurricanes and flooding, and victims of war. 

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.