Monday, September 1, 2025
First Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96: The Lord comes to judge the earth
Alleluia: Luke 4:18
The Gospel: Luke 4:16–30
Today is the first of September.
In the first reading, Paul reminds us that as Christians, our grief is not the same as the world’s grief. We do mourn, but not as those without hope. Because we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also trust that those who have “fallen asleep” in Him will share in His resurrection. This is the heart of Christian hope: death does not have the final word, for life in Christ continues beyond the grave.
The psalm reinforces this hope with joy, proclaiming that “The Lord comes to judge the earth.” This is not a reason to fear, but a reason to rejoice. God’s judgment is not arbitrary, it is rooted in love, justice, and truth. The whole of creation is invited to celebrate the coming of the Lord who restores and makes all things new.
In the Gospel, Jesus proclaims His mission in His hometown of Nazareth: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me.” These words are not only about Him but about the mission we inherit as His disciples. He came to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives, healing to the broken, and freedom to the oppressed. As His followers, we too are called to make this mission our own.
Taken together, today’s readings remind us that hope in Christ transforms how we live and how we see the world. It calls us to move beyond fear of death, beyond despair, and into a life of active witness, sharing the Good News through mercy, compassion, and justice.
May we trust in the promise of resurrection, rejoice in God’s justice, and allow the Spirit to guide us in bringing glad tidings to the poor and freedom to the oppressed.
God bless you,
Pal Ronnie
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