A Homily for Friday of the 24th Week in Ordinary Time
Friday, September 19, 2025
Prince of Peace Catholic Church – 8:00 Mass
1 Timothy 6:2c-12; Psalm 49:6-7, 8-10, 17-18, 19-20; Luke 8:1-3
Audio Recording
In today’s Gospel, St. Luke tells us that Jesus journeyed from one town to another, “preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God.” His mission was relentless. He didn’t wait for people to come to Him — He went out to seek them. With Him were the Twelve, but also women who had been healed and transformed: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others. Their presence tells us that discipleship is for everyone and it is never passive. When someone encountered Jesus and experienced His love, the natural response was to follow Him and serve His mission.
Those of you who are here this morning for daily Mass already know this truth. Your presence here shows your love for the Lord and your faithfulness. You have chosen to begin your day with Him, to be nourished by His Word and by the Eucharist. That is no small thing — it’s a powerful witness of your discipleship.
But as today’s Gospel reminds us, the life of a disciple does not stop when we leave this church. The apostles and the holy women and other disciples who followed Jesus didn’t just listen to Him in the morning and then return to business as usual. Their encounter with Him touched every part of their lives.
We too, can allow the message of the gospel to touch every part of our lives. This is where we can learn from a beautiful message Jesus is said to have given to Sister Josefa Menendez in the 1920’s, documented in her book entitled The Way of Divine Love. He told her that while a few are called to be great missionaries in distant lands, we are all called to help save souls right where we are — in our daily routines and ordinary duties.
Jesus shared with Sr. Josefa that far too few realize how important and powerful this call really is. The saints often speak of this call as the “Sacrament of the Present Moment.” Each moment of our day, no matter how small, can be offered to God and become an instrument of His saving love.
Listen to the words of Jesus to Sister Josefa:
“My Love goes so far that My friends can draw great treasure out of mere nothing. When as soon as they awake they unite themselves to Me and offer the whole day with a burning desire that My Heart may use it to profit souls…when with love they perform their duties, hour by hour and moment by moment…How great is the treasure they amass in just one day. If they simply grasped this, they could divinize their life and all their activities by this close union with My Heart…and how great is the value of a Divine Day!”
What a stunning reminder. You and I may not preach in foreign lands, but when we unite even the smallest duties of our day to Christ — with love, with patience, with a desire to bring His presence to others — we become missionaries. The chores, the errands, the conversations with friends and coworkers, the kindness we show to strangers — these can all be moments of grace that help Christ save souls.
Daily Mass is where it begins. Here, we draw strength from His Word and His Body and Blood. But when we leave here, our mission is to live the “Divine Day” that Jesus describes: uniting every task, every encounter, every sacrifice with His Sacred Heart for the salvation of souls.
So today, thank the Lord for the faith that brings you to this altar. Then ask Him for the grace to carry His presence into each moment of your day. For when we truly live the Sacrament of the Present Moment, our ordinary lives are transformed — and countless souls are touched by His love.
God bless you.